Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Clifford Williams gives his 82-year-old father, Constantine Williams, a piggy-back ride to the doctor yesterday. Mr. Williams said his father was traumatised after his home was badly damaged by a landslide that killed 25-year-old Laura Reid, a next-door neighbour who was staying at the house in the community of Pleasant View, near Gordon Town Road, St. Andrew. Lorane Butler, the elderly man's pregnant granddaughter, was admitted at hospital. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

It was a wet and clammy day yesterday as heavy rainfall, associated with tropical storm Noel, continued to lash the island. There were several reports of landslides, roadblocks and flooding in some major communities in eastern parts of the country.

The police have confirmed the death of one woman who was trapped in her two-bedroom house after the building collapsed. Laura Reid was killed yesterday morning when the house she occupied with her friend Lorraine Butler in Mud Town, off the Gordon Town main road in St. Andrew, caved in.

Four months pregnant

The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) told The Gleaner that the other woman, Ms. Butler, who is four months pregnant, was also injured and has been hospitalised.

Meanwhile, the Met Office yesterday extended its flash flood warning for low-lying and flood-prone areas of eastern parishes until 5:00 a.m. today, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has warned persons living in vulnerable areas to immediately move out of those communities.

"In the context of what we're experiencing now we cannot stress or over emphasise the need for persons to evacuate these areas and go to safe ground," said Ronald Jackson, director general of the ODPEM.

"We are continuing our call for a systematic approach to the relocation of communities in vulnerable locations and an enforcement of the existing laws as it relates to informal settlements, given the nature of the hazards that exist in these areas," he added.

When The Gleaner visited the disaster prone community of Kintyre in St. Andrew there were scenes of destruction and complete wreckage.

On Camp View Avenue, the roadway had broken away, leaving several vehicles stranded in the war torn community. Principal of the St. Pious Early Childhood Learning Centre, Jennifer Savage, told The Gleaner she was forced to close the school yesterday, as she feared it was too dangerous for the students.

"I don't know what's going to happen now because there's no way I am going to risk the lives of these small kids to cross that little makeshift bridge to come to school," said Ms. Savage. The principal also said the school is without water as the pipes in the roadway had burst.

Several residents in the community also bombarded our news team with concerns that their homes were falling apart. Noel Richards said his house was on the verge off collapsing.

When The Gleaner visited his house, which was almost buried in a deep slope, the scenes were frightening.

Half of his driveway had caved in leaving the entrance to his home lopsided. His entire living room, veranda and bathroom had huge cracks in the walls and his living room floor was split in half.

The 60-year-old said he will have to flee his home as he expects the building to collapse at anytime. He is however unable to leave as his vehicle has been trapped in his yard for over a month unable to move due to his collapsed driveway.

"Is a death trap," he said. It terrible, terrible, I don't know where I goin' to go, but mi plan is to get out of here cause it nuh safe," said Mr. Richards.

Meanwhile, in St. Thomas the reports were similar. A section of the Yallahs fording at Eleven Miles Bull Bay had broken away. The Mahogany Vale and White River fords were also completely inundated.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com