Lead Stories

Arthur Hall, Senior Gleaner Writer

THE FLOOD rains which lashed the island over the past three days have claimed at least two lives and there are growing fears that many other persons might have died, as the outer bands of what developed into Tropical Storm Nicole rocked Jamaica.

A teenage boy and a 68-year-old farmer were confirmed dead in what could be one of the most deadly weather systems to have hit the island in more than a decade.

A family of six is among the persons reported missing and feared dead, but there were unconfirmed reports last night that at least six other persons could not be accounted for.

The first worrying signs came in the wee hours of yesterday morning when news broke that the wall of the Sandy Gully had collapsed, near Liguanea Avenue in St Andrew, pulling three houses into the raging waters.

It was quickly confirmed that a woman, her four children, her common-law husband and a visiting female friend were in one of the houses at the time it fell into the gully.

At the break of day, as the water flow subsided, the nude body of one of the children, a young boy, was seen near the collapsed building inside the gully.

A frantic search was launched but up to late last night, as the other persons had not been found sparking fears that they had been buried in the rubble or their bodies washed into the sea.

"Me can't tek this. Me know all of them and the woman is a good woman who work hard and is always trying," said one neighbour with tears flowing down her face.

Other persons cried quietly as they expressed regret at the tragedy.

Member of parliament for the area, Delroy Chuck, was equally struck by the tragedy which he claimed was avoidable.

"Obviously, it is a combination of factors that has caused the collapse of the house," Chuck told The Gleaner.

"The house was built right on the gully bank and the gully floor and its banks were eroding. Up to Saturday, I was viewing it because I have made representation already to the National Works Agency about the many gullies in the community that need to be repaired and this was one of them," Chuck added.

Death confirmed

Hours later, the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that 68-year-old farmer Lenford Blake was washed away by torrential rains in Flagaman, St Elizabeth.

While the police were unable to provide details on the circumstances surrounding Blake's death, it was reported he was at a bar in the community when he left. On his way home, he was reportedly swept away by gushing waters.

That news was quickly followed by reports that a man who attempted to cross the flooded ford in the Hope River in Harbour View, St Andrew, had been washed away.

Residents claimed to have seen the unidentified man's body floating towards the sea.

The body was not found up to press time and the police were unable to provide any information.

In 2008, Tropical Gustav caused 15 deaths and left millions of dollars in damage.