The breach in the East Demerara Conservancy Dam has been sealed and residents of Cane Grove, Mahaica were desperately trying to recapture their lives as the flooding began to recede yesterday.
In several parts of the Mahaica creek village there were signs of a drop in water levels as efforts began at mopping up.
A visit to the area yesterday by Stabroek News saw many residents engaged in either pumping water out of their bottom flats, or washing out debris, which remained after the water had receded.
Sealed! A resident of the Cane Grove area, yesterday inspecting the work of personnel from BK International, who in collaboration with the Drainage and Irrigation Board sealed the breach in the East Demerara Conservancy Dam. The dam, which gave way in the wee hours of Saturday morning, resulted in the severe flooding of the neighbouring farms and the residential community of Cane Grove. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)
Pumps deposited hundreds of gallons of water into the Mahaica creek yesterday and later the sluice at Strathavon was opened.
The army, in collaboration with members of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), continued to provide meals and other relief items to residents at strategic locations. Water was also being delivered to the community although persons had to traverse some distance to obtain supplies.
A release from the Ministry of Health yesterday stated that teams continued to provide care for residents affected by the disaster.
According to the release, the medical team was equipped to provide treatment for bites and abrasions (tetanus shots), skin irritations or water-borne diseases and any other ailment that might arise. Children were being vaccinated, and bleach was provided for the purification of water.
The ministry also said that because of the likelihood of the discovery of small dead animals and floating human waste, its environmental division and the Environmental Protection Agency were ready to assist.
Army relief: Residents of the flooded community of Cane Grove, Mahaica, received meals courtesy of the Guyana Defence Force, which is coordinating with other agencies to bring relief to the community devastated by recent floods due to a breach in the East Demerara Conservancy Dam. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)
At the site of the breach there was not much activity with the visible absence the large amount of persons that had traverse the location in the last couple of days. Steel sheets had been firmly driven into the breached area and secured, and a support erected to ensure their stability. However, there were still signs of seepage through sheets.
The breach was said to have been finally sealed sometime around midnight on Sunday after over 24 hours of continuous toil by personnel from BK International, the NDC, Drainage and Irrigation Board and villagers.
Reporters were taken to areas along the conservancy dam which villagers said they considered vulnerable. There were numerous allegations as to the reason for the breach. Stabroek News is endeavouring to contact the contracting company and its engineers to ascertain what really occurred.
Meanwhile, residents of the community spoke of losses to crops and various other commodities. Several residents showed reporters the conditions under which they were required to function for the past three days with little assistance.
Many alleyways to the east of the village remained flooded or muddy as the water receded and residents said they were still worried about an outbreak of disease, since most of them had pit latrines.
Meanwhile, Ming's Products and Services has pitched in to give assistance, making available to the affected communities for as long as necessary, two new 14 ft fibreglass boats along with two Yamaha engines. The items, valued at $1.3 million, will be handed over to the marine wing of the GDF today. And Esso Standard Oil has agreed to provide 410 litres of gasoline and 24 litres of oil valued $42,000, which will be used in the engines.