The 2018 Trinidad and Tobago floods were a series of over-bank floods and flash-floods occurring in the twin-island Caribbean nation, Trinidad and Tobago. These events followed consistent rainfall on Friday 19 October 2018 and intermittent rainfall on Saturday 20 October 2018. Rivers in Caroni, Diego Martin and Maraval breached their banks. Several communities were evacuated as homes and vehicles were flooded; many areas were inaccessible. Flooding along the Caroni Plain caused the submersion of a major part of the Uriah Butler Highway. The south-bound lane of this highway was temporarily closed to vehicular traffic. The north-bound lane was temporarily used for two-way traffic, permitting only large SUVs and heavy-T vehicles. Flight services out of Piarco International Airport were temporarily disrupted.
Rainfall and Met Office warnings Consistent rainfall persisted throughout the day on Friday 19 October 2018. Trinidad and Tobago is located on the band of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), making it prone to over-bank river flooding, flash flooding, and landslides following extreme and erratic rainfall. The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) upgraded the Riverine Flood Alert level from orange to red. Citizens were advised then to secure themselves and their property and execute emergency evacuation procedures.
Flooded roads and highways The following table (incomplete) shows some of the roadways and highways that were affected. +Flooded Roads and Highways in Trinidad and Tobago due to the October 2018 rainfall and flooding.ROADWAYSTATUSAnn Avenue (Vicinity of Diego Martin)Flooding ReportedArima Blanchisseuse RoadTrees Fallen.Bassie street (Vicinity of Valsayn) Partially FloodedCaroni Southbank RoadFloodedCunapo Southern RoadLandslips. Road blocked at some points. Flooding in some areas.Diego Martin Main RoadPartially FloodedDookiesingh Street (Vicinity of St Augustine)Partially FloodedEastern Main Road (Vicinity of Manzanilla)Previously Flooded.Eastern Main Road (Vicinity of Sangre Grande)Previously Flooded.Garnet Road, between Emerald Drive and Gopaul Avenue (Vicinity of Diego Martin)Flooding ReportedGolden Grove Road (Vicinity of Piarco International Airport)FloodedHeights of AripoFive landslips.Kiskadee Walk (Vicinity of River Estate, Diego Martin)Flooding ReportedMadras Road (Vicinity of St. Helena)FloodedNorth Coast RoadFallen Trees and Landslips.North Oropouche Road and Fishing Pond RoadFlooding subsidingNorthpost Road (Vicinity of Diego Martin)Partially FloodedParia Road Landslips cleared from 55 km to 61 km.Piarco Bypass RoadFloodedSaddle Road (Vicinity of Maraval)Flooding ReportedSinai Street (Vicinity of Diego Martin)Flooding ReportedSienna Leone Road (Vicinity of Diego Martin)Flooding ReportedTrantrill Road (Vicinity of St Augustine & Caroni)FloodedUriah Butler Highway (Vicinity of Caroni) North-bound lanePartially Flooded.Uriah Butler Highway (Vicinity of Caroni) South-bound laneCompletely Flooded.Warrenville Road (Vicinity of Cunupia)FloodedWashington Junction to Warren RoadFlooded
Landslides and landslips The following table shows a list (not yet complete) of landslides/landslips that have occurred. +Landslides and Landslips in Trinidad and Tobago due to the October 2018 rainfall and flooding.WhereVicinitySecond TraceBagatelleBig YardCarenageSeaview GardensCarenageUpper Quarry StreetCovigne RichplainNorthpost RoadDiego MartinCelestine Trace, Moka Boisse No IIMaravalFaustin Trace, Moka Boisse No IIMaravalLa Sieva, Moka Boisse No IIMaravalMoraldo Street, Moka Boisse No IIMaravalPhillip Trace, Le Platte VillageMaraval
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