Tropical Storm Sara made landfall in southern Belize on Sunday, November 17th, bringing heavy rainfall to the region. A tropical storm warning was issued for the entire Belizean coast and the Cayes. As the storm dissipated, residents in flood-prone communities were relieved to find that waters began to recede. Some of the affected areas included communities in the western Cayo District, where on Monday, November 18th, Prime Minister John Briceño conducted a flyover and visited several impacted communities.
The flight was over the Chalillo Dam, the Caracol Maya Ruin, the Belize River valley, and the Maskall by the Belize District. “We saw that the Chalillo dam is overflowing, and lots of water is going to be coming down the Macal River and onto San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns and to the villages in these areas,” the Prime Minister said. “Our hope is that it does not rain any more. We must consider that we have water coming in from Guatemala.” Briceño said they are concerned about the health issues these flood waters can bring for Belizeans in these areas. “We have to be on the lookout to ensure that no one gets cholera or gets sick from the water being contaminated,” he said.
Tropical Storm Sara has significantly impacted the agricultural sector in the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts. In Cayo, hundreds of acres of sugarcane fields are submerged, and many small farmers have lost their crops. Additionally, farmers in communities such as Cayo Central, particularly in La Gracia and Mile 7, have experienced widespread flooding of vegetable plantations. During the Prime Minister’s visit to the area, he also observed damage to roads and bridges, affecting local infrastructure. “We have to see how we can fix the infrastructure and also the infrastructure that can now hold the kind of water that is running down. We also need to work with our small farmers and see how we can help them,” Prime Minister Briceño said.
Another municipality affected by the flooding is San Ignacio Town, where the market and a portion of the welcome center were inundated. Briceño stated that the town will receive assistance in its recovery efforts.
Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker also experienced heavy rainfall and flooding on roads and neighborhoods. Fortunately, no significant infrastructural damage has been reported. The San Pedro Town Council identifies the flooded areas and plans rehabilitation efforts.
The weather system had been monitored since November 14th, when the Government of Belize issued its first advisory. The primary threats posed by the storm were heavy rainfall and flooding. Although Tropical Storm Sara slowly moved along the coast of Nicaragua and Honduras at a speed of two to four miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, it did not strengthen into a hurricane. However, four individuals lost their lives in Nicaragua and Honduras due to extensive flooding. Additionally, local authorities estimate that more than 120,000 people have been displaced by flooding throughout the Central American region, including incidents in Costa Rica.
