Rough bad weather has been going on for several days in Guyana, causing multiple disasters and requiring the sending of equipment and food to a remote commune, said Monday, May 4, the prefect of Guyana, Marc del Grande. In Saint-Laurent du Maroni, " 139 people were evacuated and 99 of them agreed to be accommodated in a gymnasium " since Sunday evening, after the flooding of several neighborhoods, he explained during the 'a press point. French Guiana, which has entered the rainy season, has been " vigilant " for heavy rains and high tides for several days. Another intense episode is expected within 48 hours, authorities said.
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The rainfall recorded in Guyana over the past 3 weeks is equivalent to two years of rain in Morbihan. Unheard of for " thirty years, " said the prefect. The municipality of Camopi-Trois Sauts, located on the border with Brazil and one to three days distant from the coast by motorized canoe, is particularly affected. " 80% " of the thousand inhabitants of Camopi have their homes flooded, according to the estimate of the former mayor of the town, René Monerville contacted by AFP.
“ People are building a new tarpaulin camp to shelter. Some have lost all their belongings, ”said Jérémie Mata, a Camopi resident contacted by AFP on Monday. For " four days " the river, which crosses the town, is in flood, according to this resident, who deplores the risk of shortage because of the impossibility of going as usual " to hunting, to fishing ", and harvest. Some " are in the dark and light by candle ", because of the momentary loss of family generators and the scarcity of " fuel ". " Two tonnes of water ", " 30 kg of medical equipment ", clothes, shotgun cartridges, hooks, fuel and gas should be brought to Camopi-Trois Sauts by air and canoes within 36 hours -72h, according to the prefecture.
Elsewhere, the phenomenon has caused power cuts and several road damage, with no casualties.
In Saint-Laurent, near Suriname, surprised by the rising waters, some had to leave their neighborhood " by swimming ", according to the Guyane radio and television channel La 1ère. In Kourou, some people post their paddleboarding on the streets on social networks. " After the start of the year with a very shortfall in rain (-54%), the trend in Guyana is moving towards excess rain ", notes the latest forecast regional bulletin from Météo France.
Guyana is currently in phase 2 of coronavirus (133 confirmed cases, 1 death) and under an epidemic rise in dengue fever, with " 17 hospitalizations " in the 1st quarter, according to the latest bulletin from Public Health France.
