The Macal and Mopan are sister rivers in the west – and when those start to rise – they force the blockage of two major bridges: Iguana Creek – on the way to Spanish Lookout and the low lying temporary bridge – connecting the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. And that’s why we were interested yesterday when the Mopan near San Jose Succotz Village started to swell. Here’s what it looked like.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
This was the Mopan River yesterday as seen from the roadside at Succotz Village – swollen and running hard. Turbid waters forming powerful currents forced the closure of the ferry at Succotz which is tied up as the wide river pulls at the ferry cable.

And while the cresting river has not topped the shoulder of the Western Highway, it is right there at the upper edge of the culvert’s mouth – a culvert which usually used for drainage down from the town into the river.

In Benque it has already covered some riverside trees and near the Benque bus station the water is lapping at the stairs. But a river at crest is a great time to cast nets or drop a fishing line - even for floodwater fishermen only lucky enough to come up with a catfish. And for others the high waters are non-threatening diversion –at least up to now.

Again, as of this evening those levels have subsided somewhat. The Mopan remains in a flood stage, and the Macal is expected to continue to fall going into Friday.