Schools in St Vincent closed due to flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday announced the closure of all schools on the island after heavy rains caused widespread flooding and landslides.

Several houses have been damaged, and flooding and landslides were reported across the island as a tropical wave dumped 5.2 inches of rain on the country in a 24-hour period.

National Security Minister St Clair Leacock, who also has responsibility for the public service, has advised that public sector workers are required to report to work on Tuesday.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services said that the heavy rains are associated with a tropical wave which is “crossing the islands”, while the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) indicated that it has received reports of heavy rains, with flooding and landslides affecting areas including Buccament, South Rivers, Kingstown and Marriaqua.

The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information said that “all schools will remain closed today” and is encouraging “students, parents and guardians to continue monitoring official updates and to prioritise safety”.

The lone electricity provider, VINLEC, said it is aware of outages currently affecting several communities and that “our teams are working to assess faults and restore supply.

“However, landslides, flooding and blocked roads are making access to some affected areas difficult at this time. As a result, restoration may take longer than usual,” VINLEC said, adding that it will continue restoration efforts as soon as areas can be safely accessed.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and thank customers for their patience and understanding as we work under these challenging conditions,” it added.

The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) has cancelled outpatient clinics on Tuesday “due to heavy rainfall and flooding”.

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