Living on the edge - Residents on river bank keep an eye out for landslides

Date13 November 2020
Published date13 November 2020
AuthorRomardo Lyons - STAR Writer
Publication titleJamaica Star, The (Kingston, Jamaica)
While they are concerned about the possibility of boulders falling on their homes, they are waiting to see how things progress before making a move.

"The chance of a rock falling and hitting us is slim. But on the other hand, we are on the banking. I am not really scared of the river, but I am more concerned by the overhead banking. It's made up of mostly rocks. The river is not a threat. What can we do more than pray and hope seh we nuh affected?" Shawn Burgess, a resident of 10 years told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Burgess says if Jamaica is lashed by Tropical Storm Theta, that is expected to cause a wet weekend, there could be grave damage.

"If it rains and the land get soaked and slip down, then the best I can do is take weh myself. If it happens in the night when I am asleep, then I pray father God forgive me for all the sins weh me do already. Everything replaceable, but documents like my birth paper and such, I have to put them in a waterproof container and ready to go in case of anything," he said. "I have a lot of concerns. The greatest part about it is that the hills connect. So if we have time, we can try alternative routes by going all the way up as far as across Portland. That's the safest route I know now because St. Thomas is a no-no."

Unexpected

Burgess said the timing of the road collapse was unexpected. "I've never seen anything like this. I was expecting it sometime next month. Before it collapse, I just walked pass it and come back," he said.

Asauna...

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