Heavy rains flood road to Baxter’s Mountain Primary in St Mary

Heavy rains disrupted classes at Baxter’s Mountain Primary School in St Mary, leaving students and staff marooned on Wednesday.

Principal Sherene Harris said torrential rainfall from Tuesday into Wednesday inundated the roadway leading to the school.

According to Harris, a fording used to access the institution has overflowed, flooding the roadway and rendering it impassable to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

“We are now marooned and our students and teachers are unable to get home, as the fording is flooded,” Harris said.

She added that some students who had boarded taxis to return home were forced to return to the school because it was impossible to cross the flooded area.

“The rain is pouring as we speak and so we probably will need an emergency rescue team to come into the area to assist with getting out the students and teachers,” she said.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Southeast St Mary, Christopher Brown, said several communities, including Long Road, Broadgate and Baxter’s Mountain, have been affected by flooding, restricting residents’ movement.

“I have received reports that in the district of Long Road residents are blocked in due to landslide,” Brown said.

He added that the National Works Agency has been alerted and teams are on the ground assessing the situation.

“I am urging residents in the affected areas to be on the alert and to take every precaution during this period of rainfall,” Brown said.

- Gareth Davis Snr

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.