Last night we showed you some of the damage that has been done along the old Northern Highway due to the heavy rains that poured down on Belize for about 10 days.
Well tonight we will show you a more in-depth look at the destruction wrought by the very heavy rainfall. Robin Schaffer has the story...
Robin Schaffer reporting
Belizeans are trying to cope with the damage from the past couple of weeks. It was the kind of rain that turned roads into rivers, yards into moats and a watermelon patch into a pond. Indeed, this farmer had to take on the role of fisherman as he tried to salvage some of the waterlogged crops on the Old Northern Highway.
Victor Padilla, Farmer in the River Valley
"For Hurricane Mitch we had something similar but we never lost that much. We had invested around $15,000.00 in tomato and sweet
pepper and whatever else you see at the farm. If I get like $3,000 back, that would be a lot. My losses I would call it about $12,000. I have to go look for a job or at least I need something to start over. Start to clean some land and start over again in higher lands."
And it is not only the farmers who are suffering from the 10 day downpour. Residents were trapped in their houses as their yards were filled with water. And for those houses not on stilts, water has entered, flooding the house. Some residents have even taken to making makeshift bridges, precariously crossing planks thrown over from one relatively dry area to another. One resident expressed the hopelessness of her situation, saying that she simply cannot do anything.
Resident of River Valley
"I can't even get out of my house."
Reporter
"So what will you do now?"
Resident of River Valley
"I have to try to find somewhere else to go."
Reporter
"How does this inconvenience you?"
Resident of River Valley
"I can't send my children to school. I can't go to the shop and I can't do anything."
As for the Old Northern road, it is impassable at night. Here, the magnitude of the flood can be seen as vehicles power through what could almost be called a river. There is no doubt, the damage is great, and for now, Belizeans look on with dread as this is only the beginning of the 5 month rainy season.
As of yesterday, the bridges in Lucky Strike and Corozalito were both underwater, and there was also water on the Crooked Tree Causeway.
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