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Tonight a third of the country is isolated and you still cannot travel to southern Belize by road. As we reported last night, the rising Sittee River has fully submerged and now partially washed away the temporary causeway that was built by the Ministry of Works a month ago. It was built after flash floods from Tropical Storm Arthur washed away the Kendall Bridge. CEO in the Ministry of Works Cadet Henderson says it will be another 48 hours before they restore the temporary causeway.

Cadet Henderson, CEO – Ministry of Works
“Sometime between 7:30 and 8 this morning that causeway has been breached, it is over top. In fact last report I had it was at least two feet over the bridge. The causeway itself, as you recall, had thirty culverts and we installed a bridge. The span part of the bridge was completed and that span is equivalent to 20 of these culverts so there was the equivalent of fifty 4 to 5 feet culvert in place but that seemingly couldn’t handle the volume with the recent rains and so it is under water, including the bridge and significant loss in the gravel formation has occurred as well as many of the culverts have been lost. We have the culverts cabled together but they snapped loose and they are down stream.”

Keith Swift,
So what happens next, when will it be fixed?

Cadet Henderson,
“After waters recede we need at least 48 hours to have it passable by vehicles and in the first instance this will be driving through shallow waters and thereafter we will continue our efforts to reinstate the causeway.”

Thos pictures show the bridge yesterday before it was breached. And to be specific, the status report as of 3:32 pm today is as follows: rising waters of the Sittee now stand about 10 feet above the bridge and are rising. No vehicular access across the river is expected for the next 2 days. A 45 foot bridge was installed and opened to use yesterday. Another 45 foot extension to the bridge requires another 2 days for completion. Also, the Hummingbird Highway at Sarawee Village is about 2 feet flooded over the road.
 
And today complicating matters at the site of the Kendall Bridge, this massive tree fell on the bank’s of the Sittee River which is were boats from the BDF and Coast Guard have been ferrying passengers on rafts and small boats from one of the river to the other. The tree fell slowly so most were able to get out of harm’s way. We could not confirm if anyone was hurt. This photo of the scene was sent to us by a viewer. BDF soldiers were on the scene and they were able to help.