Muddied and drenched, Randell and Rawle Achaibar filled sand from a stockpile in Charlieville earlier this morning in a desperate bid to prevent further devastation following extensive floods at Dyette Estate in Central Trinidad.
"We did not sleep last night. We had five feet of water inside the house. All our neighbours lost possessions. Some of them don't have any vehicles so we are using our van to bring sandbags into the community," Rawle said.
Having stacked 200 bags around some 20-plus houses, Rawle said they were bracing for further floods.
"At this point, we have no choice but to find ways to keep the water out of our houses. We filling sandbags since 5 am," Randell said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Asked whether the devastation could have been avoided, Randell said no. He said he went to Arena Dam yesterday and was shocked to see how filled it was.
"We knew if rain fell there will be floods but we have never seen this much flooding before," Randell said.
Members of the Markaz Al Asja organise relief items for flood victims at the ASJA Charlieville Complex.
Kristian De Silva
At a nearby stockpile owned by the Chaguanas Regional Corporation, Field Officers Sharmilla Rampersad and Navindra Persad supervised the filling of more sandbags.
Rampersad said each councillor brought in volunteers who supervised the distribution of sandbags.
"Areas such as Caroni Savannah Road, Abidh Road, Felicity, Bridal Road and Dyette Estate Cunupia were devastated and people in those areas need help. Most of the trapped residents have been rescued but now we have to make arrangements to prevent further losses," Rampersad said.
Persad said the flooding caught some people by surprise.
"I think we learnt many lessons from these floods. As a country, we need to be better prepared. Areas in which people were stranded should be evacuated, especially in the Tunapuna/Piarco region.”
Vehicles small and large were being used to move the sandbags with the flood waters still rising in some areas.
Kristian De Silva
Nyrel Ramsey, who came to collect sandbags for Edinburgh 500 residents, called for additional supplies and volunteers to mitigate the crisis.