Classes Called off In San Pedro

The Ministry of Education has called off classes for today for the entire Belize District due to the bad weather conditions currently affecting the country. All schools on Ambergris Caye, with the exception of Island Academy, San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School and Maestro Reyes School of Knowledge, have called of classes for today. This also includes all pre-schools.

Heavy Rains Still Falling

A week of heavy rains over northern Honduras, northern Guatemala, and Belize due to Tropical Depression Sixteen and a Western Caribbean tropical disturbance (91L) have resulted in record flooding and deadly mudslides across the region. In Honduras, a nationwide state of emergency has been declared, and at least eleven people are dead and two missing from the flooding. Two large landslides blocked the Coyol River in western Honduras yesterday, forming a lake 500 feet deep. Engineers are attempting to drain the lake today, but they won't be helped by the weather--91L promises to move little the next two days, and will continue to dump heavy rains on the region. Here in Belize, damage is already estimated in the ten of millions, and some areas are seeing flooding worse than was experienced during Hurricanes Mitch and Keith. Satellite estimates suggest up to a foot of rain has fallen over the region in the past week.

Flooding in San Igancio, Cayo

Visible satellite loops show that the intensity and areal coverage of 91L's heavy thunderstorms have remained about the same the past 12 hours, and are primarily affecting Belize and the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula this morning. The storm is located too close to land to develop into a tropical depression, and wind shear is also rather high, 20 knots.

The forecast for 91L
Wind shear is expected to remain in the 15-25 knot range over the next three days. Steering currents are weak, and little movement is likely through Wednesday. Heavy rains will affect northern Honduras, northern Guatemala, Belize, Mexico's eastern Yucatan Peninsula, western Cuba, and the Cayman Islands through Wednesday. A trough of low pressure swinging across the Midwest U.S. should be able to start pulling 91L northward or northwestward by Thursday. Once 91L enters the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, the trough should swing the storm to the northeast, bringing it across the west coast of Florida between Tampa and the Big Bend region on Friday night. Wind shear will be very high over the Gulf of Mexico this week, in the 30-40 knot range, and 91L is expected to make a transition to a very wet extratropical storm by Friday. The storm should bring sustained winds of 30-35 mph and heavy rains of 2-3 inches to Florida.

Liliana Nunez Heads to Honduras

Liliana Nuñez left San Pedro this afternoon on her way to La Ceiba, Honduras where she will represent Belize at the Reina Internacional del Tropico Pageant. The second annual pageant is scheduled from October 20 to the 26 when the final selection will take place. Liliana was crowned Miss San Pedro in 2006. We wish her all the best in Honduras.

You can also vote for Liliana in the Miss Tropico Internet. Only your votes can make her win this segment of the pageant. VOTE HERE!

Read article Here!

More Rain

Although the situation in San Pedro is not as bad as our Belizean neighbors in the Cayo District, the rains have most of the island residents frustrated. Residents of all the different neighborhoods outside of town are complaining about the horrible street conditions. Puddles run deep and from side to side of streets making them impassable and vehicles are breaking down constantly. Its been raining constantly for a couple of months making it almost impossible for the Town Council to send its street grader and workers to fix the streets. We can only hope that the rains stop for a while so that the conditions of the streets can be alleviated.

Below are more flooding images in the Cayo District submitted to Ambergris Today yesterday, Sunday, October 19.

Flooding In San Ignacio Town

Here are a couple pictures of flooding in San Ignacio Town, Cayo District taken this morning by the marketplace in the center of town. A press release from Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL) states that the Challio Facility has reached its full supply level and as a result, water is now flowing over the dam by as much as 3½ meters.

The flood control features of the Challio Facility have reduced the impact of floods on downstream communities by approximately 50%. With the persistent rains, BECOL expects that with the spill over the dam will continue to rise and therefore downstream residents are advised to take necessary precautions. Residents in the San Ignacio area should be aware that the floods on the Mopan Branch of the river is unrestrained and will likely back up into the lower reaches of the Macal River, resulting in very high water levels.

BECOL takes this opportunity to correct misperceptions that it has opened a flood gate, causing a rapid rise in the water. On the contrary, Chalillo holds back all the water it possibly can and then excess water spills over the facility at a slower rate than it would have done if the Dam was not there.

Pictures below are courtesy of Eve's Computer Services

Warehouse Fire at Victoria House Resort

A fire broke out at the Victoria House Resort compound this afternoon that completely destroyed the resort’s warehouse. It was reported that the fire broke out at about 12:45p.m. inside the warehouse that is located at the back of the resort. The fire quickly engulfed the small wooden building, as employees reported hearing several explosions coming from inside the building.

According to resort managers Brent Kirkman and Janet Woolam, the warehouse contained several items including mattresses, ceramic tiles, generators, water pumps, old office files, Christmas decorations and new wooden doors, new tool and supplies used at the resort. There were also containers filled with gasoline and kerosene, which could explain the explosions. It was a total loss for the resort numbering in the thousands of dollars.

The San Pedro Fire Department quickly arrived at the resort and with the assistance of volunteers and resort employees managed to out the fire before it got out of hand. Victoria House Resort is currently closed for renovations and no guests were at the resort which is scheduled to open on Thursday, October 23, 2008. Look out for the complete story on next week’s issue of Ambergris Today out October 23.