Accidents & Disasters

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.

On Thursday, September 19th, the San Pedro Police Formation received a report of an adult male falling from the fourth floor of a building located north of San Pedro Town. Upon arrival, police officers discovered the lifeless body of a Hispanic male identified as 45-year-old Belizean construction worker Abisur Loza from Patachakan Village, Corozal District. Medical assistance was quickly called to the site, but unfortunately, nothing could be done for Loza as he had succumbed to his injuries following the fatal fall.

An electrical pole collapsed in downtown San Pedro on Sunday, September 22nd. Nearby motorists shared images of the fallen pole next to a popular supermarket. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, although it reportedly narrowly missed pedestrians and some vehicles. However, the incident caused power outages in some regions of the island. Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) personnel quickly responded to the incident, and residents said power was restored to some affected areas shortly after.

Two training sessions were recently held in the Cayes to provide comprehensive training in disaster management, focusing on preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters impacting the islands. The first session was held at the Caye Caulker Village Council Meeting Hall on Thursday, August 29th, from 6PM to 9PM, and the second session took place on August 30th at the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) San Pedro Command Centre, from 9AM to 2 M. The main goal of these sessions was to equip participants with skills to assess properties after natural disasters, determine damage levels, and promote disaster preparedness.

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) is the primary government agency responding to natural disasters and distributing humanitarian aid following the aftermath of events like a hurricane. In areas like Ambergris Caye, supplies sometimes need to be transported from the mainland, which can take additional time. Area Representative Honorable Andre Perez shared that proactive measures are being taken to address this inconvenience. Containers are being secured for both Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye to house emergency equipment and supplies. Perez said this is a temporary plan as the main goal is to build or find a structure to operate as a permanent NEMO warehouse on Ambergris Caye.

Following an unfortunate incident in which a shark severely injured a 15-year-old American student visiting from Colorado while on a scuba diving trip in Belize, the family has launched a GoFundMe page, https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-annabelles-brave-recovery-journey. The unimaginable encounter happened on August 6th off Half Moon Caye when the teenager, after completing her dive, decided to jump back in the water for a swim. Even though she was immediately assisted by tour company members and taken to a Belize Coast Guard base, other divers partaking in the trip noted a lack of appropriate resources when handling such emergencies. To be better prepared, they urge more training for the staff handling the tours and recommend getting a better first aid kit.