San Pedro Colombia Cut Off by Rising Floodwaters in Toledo

Residents of San Pedro Colombia in the Toledo District are facing serious challenges after heavy rains left parts of the village flooded and impassable. The rising waters have blocked entry and exit routes, cutting off movement for families and commuters.  Among those most affected are students, many of whom were unable to attend school due to the floodwaters. Parents and teachers have expressed concern that prolonged disruption could impact classroom learning, especially during this critical time of the school year.  One resident, Hilberto Coh, spoke with Senior Correspondent Paul Mahung with an appeal to government for attention in the village.

Hilberto Coc, Resident: “And I pray hard and I just hope for the best, that we want this road to be accessible, because we have a Maya site here. We have tourists come here. You cannot be, and they cannot pass. Students they are not in classroom right now. This bridge is close to 100 years. This bridge is built in 1945. And that’s, I wasn’t born at that time, and right now I’m 54 years old. So this, it’s about time that our leaders should look and listen to the cry of the people. We need a higher bridge. As you know that early this morning at around two, three o’clock this morning t’s very heavy rain. It was pouring and if you look at the river right now, it’s high. It’s going down slowly. Every year we experience this flood. It’s a bridge going down under the water. It’s not accessible.”

Several other villages have been affected by flood waters including Aguacate and Blue Creek, both in the Toledo District.