Coastal Guyana hit by high tides, flooding advisory in effect

TTTTGeorgetown: Coastal Guyana today was drenched with flood waters due to extreme high tides combined with severe winds.

Affected areas included the East Coast Demerara highway, communities on Essequibo Coast and  communities in Berbice.

Inundation caused several inches of flood water to wreak havoc on the residents of the various communities.

High tides caused over topping of the sea walls between Lillendaal and Vlissengen Road, Georgetwon, Rupert Craig Highway and parts of Bel Air, Subryanville, Skeldon, Den Amstel, Leonora and Uitlvlugt.

An advisory was issued by the Ministry of Public Works for persons not to converge at the Georgetown seawalls today.  Rupert Craig Highway would remain closed until Monday morning because the next high tide would be at 3 PM Sunday. The height would be 2.94 meters. 

At Hampton Court, Essequibo a Kooker door collapsed and authorities have since been mobilized to the area to repair the structure.

Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn confirmed that although the Liliendaal pump was working, several drains and trenches in the area were blocked preventing the water from running off the land.

Benn said explained that the tide was 3.11 meters high plus another 1.5 meters of waves were riding on top. Adding that gusty winds contributed to the tidal flooding, it was noted that the tide was abrupt and did not show up on the meteorological guidelines.