Accidents & Disasters

On Saturday, December 7th, a fire broke out on Barracuda Street, near the lagoon side of the Boca del Rio area, destroying a small wooden structure. The fire ignited just before 5PM and quickly consumed the building. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Following the tragic accident on Friday, December 6th, which resulted in the death of American tourist 40-year-old Jennifer Hernandez, police have charged her boyfriend, 39-year-old Isaac Jeremy Flores. He faces charges of reckless driving, driving without due care and attention, death by careless conduct, and failure to provide a specimen for analysis. Flores was arraigned at the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Monday, December 9th, where he was granted bail set at $10,000, along with a surety of $5,000. He was able to post bail and avoided being remanded to the Kolbe Foundation Central Prison in Belize. The bail conditions require that Flores attend the preliminary inquiry, as well as the High Court arraignment and trial when they are scheduled.

On November 29th, a tragic accident occurred involving a bus carrying students from the Ocean Academy male basketball team. The van was en route to a basketball tournament in Orange Walk Town when its tires blew out, resulting in significant injuries among the passengers. Reports indicate that the bus was transporting 20 students and staff members at the time of the incident.

A family suffered a devastating loss on November 19th when their property was deliberately set on fire in an act of arson. The blaze destroyed three houses, leaving the property owner, 47-year-old Sandra Isela Catzim, with an estimated loss of $200,000. In response, local leaders, residents, and organizations have united to offer support through fundraisers and direct assistance to Catzim.

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.

A large fire broke out on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 19th, in the DFC neighborhood of San Pedro, destroying three houses. The affected properties included a two-story home, a four-bedroom house, and a small shop with a bedroom, estimated at $200,000. The affected property owner, 47-year-old Sandra Isela Catzim, and the community are seriously concerned, as fire officials have confirmed that the fire was caused by arson.

A motorcycle accident in the early hours of Sunday, November 10th, resulted in the death of 30-year-old Eric Williams. The tragic incident occurred on Crocodile Street in the San Pedrito area, where Williams crashed into a lamppost, sustaining severe head injuries. According to an official report, the accident happened just past midnight. It stated that Williams, a carpenter from the DFC area, was riding a black and blue AKT motorcycle when he collided with the lamppost.

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) was established in February 1999 and is the sole government department and authority responsible for keeping the country in a state of preparedness for an emergency, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, among other hazards. With its main headquarters in the Capital City of Belmopan, it operates across the country via local branches and coordinators.