By Clive Simpson, Gleaner Writer
Residents of Capital Heights in Greenpond, Montego Bay, St. James, view debris that was washed into the North Gully following flood rains on Saturday. A section of the gully, which is still under construction, was damaged. - Patrick Campbell/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
HEAVY RAINFALL in Montego Bay, St. James, on Saturday afternoon resulted in severe flooding and damage to infrastructure in some sections of the capital.
Prolonged traffic congestion was reported in the hotel area.
The rains, which came suddenly just after noon, were accompanied by thunderstorms. By late afternoon, flooding was reported in Flankers and along Queens Drive in the vicinity of El Greco Resort.
This snarled the flow of traffic along Gloucester and Kent avenues, extending several miles into Ironshore.
Dr. Horace Chang, Member of Parliament for North West St. James, visited the flood-hit areas to assess the situation. He noted that the traffic jam lasted nearly eight hours and was eventually cleared with the collaboration of the police and the National Works Agency.
Dr. Chang said that in addition to Flankers, other areas badly damaged include a portion of the North Gully, which is currently being repaired and sections of the Rose Heights, Sun Valley and Salt Spring main roads, which were badly scoured by flood waters and rendered impassable to vehicular traffic.
