St James, Jamaica— Heavy rains have caused significant disruptions in the community of John’s Hall and surrounding areas in St James, leaving several parts of the main roadway impassable due to landslides and flooding.
Over the past few days, the region has experienced incessant rainfall, culminating in severe downpours that began again in the late morning on Saturday. The already saturated soil could not withstand the continuous rainfall, leading to landslides that have blocked at least three different sections of the roadway between John’s Hall and its adjoining communities.
The blocked roads have halted vehicle traffic, compelling pedestrians to exercise extreme caution when navigating the hazardous terrain. An observer captured a scene where a section of the roadway was completely obstructed by a landslide.
Adding to the chaos, the heavy rains have led to a sharp rise in a nearby river, resulting in severe flooding. The floodwaters have deposited large amounts of debris onto the roadways, and at least one vehicle has been swept away by the deluge.
Moreover, the community is grappling with power outages. Trees weakened by the rains have collapsed onto several utility poles, disrupting electricity to various parts of John’s Hall and surrounding areas.
The road blockages have forced many commuters to seek alternative routes or abandon their vehicles and walk to their destinations. The efforts to bypass the affected roads are adding to the overall travel time and inconvenience for many residents.
Authorities are working to clear the landslides and debris from the roads and restore utility services, but the extent of the damage suggests that it may take some time before normalcy is returned to the community.
