For the second time in less than two weeks, residents of Old Guayaguayare Road, Rio Claro, Mafeking Village, Mayaro, and parts of Biche, became marooned in their homes when persistent rains caused the Ortoire and Poole rivers to overflow their banks.

The unceasing rainfall which began on Monday night and continued well into Wednesday morning caused two major landslips at Lazzarie Village.

Roads were reduced to single lanes and sunk to a depth of seven feet at several points.

Councillor Gangaram Ramlogan accompanied media personnel to affected rural agricultural villages, and noted that landslips developed after a week of heavy rainfall. "The roads literally sheared off and now heavy goods vehicles and garbage trucks are unable to pass across newly developed landslips," Ramlogan said.

Ramlogan said the corporation has since requested additional funding from the Local Government Ministry to assist in disaster relief efforts.

"We are saying that given the level of damage experienced in the Rio Claro and Mayaro districts, funding should be increased to bring immediate relief to the communities," Ramlogan said.

Maxi-taxi driver, Sarwan Seemungal, who was forced to park his maxi a few metres before crossing a landslip, said that taxis and other vehicles were also avoiding the road due to landslips.

Seemungal said schoolchildren and elderly persons were forced to walk across the treacherous road.

Meanwhile, Mayaro/ Rio Claro Regional Corporation’s chairman, Ramlochan Panchoo, described the flooding as a "double-blow" to the region.