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Two people drowned in the Sittee River about 24 hours ago. No names have been released but best information suggests that it was a Nigerian couple. They had arrived at the flooded causeway around 6:00 and needed a ride across. Three vessels were waiting to carry passengers across: two speedboats and a dory. The couple got into the dory with Captain Carlos Balona who charges anywhere around three to five dollars to ferry people across the 84 foot river span. That was sometime between 6:30 and 7:00 pm – but halfway across the river, one the speedboats cut past Barona, and caused his dory to capsize. Reports say that cries for help were heard, but only Barona made it to safety.

The body of a dark skinned woman was found about a quarter mile down river around 10:30 this morning. After that for no known reason, the BDF and police search stopped so at news time, her partner has not been found. Police are also not releasing her name.

But the deaths have raised concerns about the reckless practice of taking passengers across rolling rivers without life vests or giving consideration to how much weight a vessel can manage. Also, NEMO has given an express directive to everyone – particularly the law enforcement who are stationed near waterways, that river crossings are by no means to be made at night.

But every precaution was ignored, and disaster managers told us that the one confirmed and two likely deaths can regrettably be attributed to that reckless disregard for safety.

And safety is just what disaster responders are emphasizing in the Belize River Valley as the flood is now literally in their back yards. Coming up shortly Jacqueline Godwin will take you into the valley.