Invest 91L produced torrential rainfall across parts of North-Central Trinidad on Wednesday causing many drains, streams, and rivers between St. Augustine and Sangre Grande to briefly overtop.
Rainfall rates up to 8 inches per hour (200+ millimeters per hour) were recorded, causing an unexpected and rapid rise in water. Across Arouca, Arima and Lopinot, there were reports of vehicles and people being swept away by raging flood waters.
On Friday, rescue teams found the body in the Arouca River of a 44-year-old woman who was washed away in Surrey, Lopinot.
Arima Man Rescued After Being Swept Away
One Arima man is lucky to be alive after being swept away by flood waters on Wednesday at the Arima Old Road, D’Abadie. Drick Narine Pollard was helping his mother secure her belongings on Wednesday morning when flood waters began rising.
The 55-year-old man was swept away in the murky waters and was captured in security camera footage fighting for his life, tumbling and attempting to grab onto anything sturdy.
His attempts to remain in the garage were unsuccessful, but shortly after, he was washed out to a nearby river and clung to a tree, where he was rescued by one of his nephews within minutes.
According to a Guardian Media report, another nephew, Anthony Nanhay, says the family called for an ambulance, but none was available. He said Pollard sustained some injuries but is resting at home.
Two Swept Away In Lopinot, One Still Missing
Further north, two siblings, Terese Lynch, 44, and her 45-year-old brother William Ramlogan were attempting to cross a ravine near McDavid Trace in Surrey Village, Lopinot. The pair were attempting to escape floodwaters while returning from Lynch’s garden when she slipped and fell into the raging waters.
Her brother, Ramlogan, tried to rescue her, but his body was thrown against rocks because of the current, and he had to let go of Teresa’s hand to save his own life. Ramlogan was eventually rescued by other farmers who had heard his cries for help, but they could not find Lynch.
As of midnight Thursday, members of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service’s Search and Rescue team, the Hunter Search and Rescue team, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, and Lopinot villagers were trying to locate Lynch.
The search party is now looking downriver along the Arima Old Road. According to a Guardian Media report, members of the search party found Lynch’s body lodged in a bamboo patch within the Arouca River close to La Florissant Bridge, on the Arima Old Road.
Multiple Vehicles Washed Away In Arouca
Within minutes of torrential rainfall, flash floods at Dunderhill Road, Bon Air West, Arouca swept away two vehicles into a large drain – a black Toyota and a green Toyota that were unrecognizable, both wedged under a bridge and surrounded by debris.
While no one was injured, other areas of Arouca experienced powerful flood waters which destroyed walls and damaged multiple vehicles.
More Inclement Weather
Showers and thunderstorms trailing Invest 91L remain in the forecast for Trinidad and Tobago over the next two days.
A Riverine Flood Alert (Yellow Level) went into effect for Trinidad and Western Tobago from 5:03 PM Wednesday, October 5th, 2022, and remains in effect through 5:00 PM Friday, October 7th, 2022 for Trinidad and western Tobago.
The Met Office also has Trinidad and Tobago under an Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) until 12:00 PM Friday, October 7th, 2022.
There are no tropical storm or hurricane watches or warnings in effect for T&T at this time.