s is often the case, heavy rains on Saturday led to extensive flooding in and around the Mandeville town centre. (Photo: Gregory Bennett)

Mandeville , Manchester — Just weeks after flooding caused widespread devastation, south central Jamaica was again hit hard by heavy rains on the weekend.

Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth all reported extensive flooding.

Mayor of May Pen Winston Maragh, who toured central and southern sections of Clarendon on Saturday identified Rocky Point, Portland Cottage, Milk River, Four Paths, Toll Gate, Scotts Pass and sections of the capital May Pen among areas most affected.

Maragh said some houses had been flooded, forcing people to flee their homes in a few cases, and several roads were made impassable. At one point on Saturday, motorists on the Kingston to Mandeville route had to turn back or pull over and wait for the water to subside.

Maragh said that in May Pen the construction of plazas and large buildings appeared to be hindering natural water flow. “The water not flowing as it used to,” he said. The May Pen mayor added that there were also reports of landslides blocking roads in the north of the parish.

In Manchester, there was widespread flooding in the capital Mandeville on Saturday, with roadways in and around the town centre including Caledonia Road, Ward Avenue, Bonitto Crescent, Decarteret Road, New Green Road being declared impassable or near impassable at various times.

The communities of Porus, Williamsfield, Content and Hanbury were severely affected with reports of families marooned in an area close to Porus.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/flood-again-weekend-rains-overwhelm-south-central-jamaica_102296