Despite floodwaters receding from Aranka, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region 7), some mines remain inundated and the water level in some creeks remains high.
Floodwaters began to ebb during the course of Thursday night and Friday when rainfall abated, a resident from the community told this publication.
Alfred Primo, a miner and businessman from the mining area, told Stabroek News that water levels have fallen significantly but some mining areas are still flooded. The water levels, he explained, were initially over four feet high and in some areas as high as six feet. He stated, too, that the community havdexperienced continuous rainfall over a 72-hour period.
According to the miner, during the course of yesterday, several persons returned to their mining camps to assess the damage sustained.
“When this flooding started nobody expected this. We had to use a boat and evacuate people out from the mining camps. A lot of food stuff were damaged and machines were left in the water. So persons went back there today (Friday) to check on the damages,” he explained.
The Civil Defence Commis-sion (CDC) on Thursday night reported that the community was flooded after an intense period of rainfall in the area. Some 1,250 persons – approximately half of the community population – are affected as a result of the flooding.
Regional Chairman of Region Seven, Kenneth Williams, told this newspaper that a team led by the CDC and medical personnel from the region is preparing to travel to the community today to get a first-hand look at the situation. He added that based on preliminary reports, the flood had caused a lot of damage leaving many persons unable to provide for themselves.
Williams informed that the team will depart Ogle at approximately 8 am for Aurora and then travel to Aranka.
This was confirmed by Primo, who pointed out that the flooding had destroyed food supplies at the mining camps.
“Bags of rice and other food stuff were destroyed because they were [stored] low so now we will need some food stuff and disinfectants to help us clean up the place,” Primo stated, adding that it is important that they are assisted with disinfectant products to prevent any disease outbreaks as most people in the area use outdoor latrines.
