Residents of Linden, who were affected by the rapid erosion following torrential downpours over the weekend have joined forces with the authorities and are assisting in the rehabilitation of foundations of the homes and roadways which were severely eroded.
Regional Chairman Renis Morian told Stabroek News that Blue-berry Hill remains the community that is the most affected. He explain-ed that the situation was compounded by rainfall and high tides resulting in the soak-away (a structure designed to drain away excess water caused by heavy rainfall) being washed away.
The mudslides are reported to have created gullies over five feet deep.
According to Morian, the Regional Democratic Council has been working with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and other agencies alongside residents to rebuild and strengthen those foundations that were undermined as a result of the excessive rains.
“The residents have come out and decided to give a helping hand and we are working to rebuilding roadways and foundation of homes that were washed way. Everyone has recongised the importance of rebuilding so we have an all-hands-on-deck work force,” the Chairman explained.
He noted too that the region is expected to receive some geotextile materials to support their rehabilitation works.
Morian added that the region is still to carry out a detailed assessment of the areas that suffered damage and will soon deploy resources to rebuild these areas.
Should there be any more heavy rainfall, it is feared that the houses may easily slip away. A source, who asked not to be named, indicated to this newspaper that some 13 homes have been affected by the erosion.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the Director General of the CDC, Lieute-nant Colonel Kester Craig, noted that following the heavy rains the soak-away at Blueberry Hill was washed away and five homes had been directly and severely impacted.
From pictures shared by Craig, the houses appear to be precariously poised on their respective foundations, sections of which have already been heavily eroded.
This newspaper was informed that the affected residents are mainly squatters who had constructed their homes without any permission from the authorities.
“This erosion of sand, clay and water is very scary because you don’t know when the mudslide can affect your home. A mudslide can push a home from… straight into the Demerara River or even knock down another house along the way,” the source pointed out as he called on the authorities to offer assistance to affected persons.
The man noted that because residents had engaged in land clearing by removing the trees to make space to erect their homes, there is no longer any support to hold the sand in place.
