Flooding at Salem as rising tide smashes koker door

Residents of Salem, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) got a rude awakening after the water level began to rise when a sluice door collapsed at around 2.30 am yesterday.

They told Stabroek News yesterday that the sluice operators were closing the doors when four planks from one of the doors fell off, resulting in overtopping of the drains. Due to this, residents were forced to move appliances and livestock to higher grounds, as water flooded into their yards.

Yesterday’s tide was at its highest at 2.49 am, a height of 3.18 meters.

According to the Guyana Hydrometeorological Office, the spring tide warnings have been in effect since June 20th, and will last unto 29th June.

While some residents managed to save their appliances and livestock, others suffered losses.

It is unclear if any reports were made to the relevant authorities regarding the faulty koker door; to the knowledge of the residents, no such reports were made.

However, after Regional authorities became aware of the situation, planks were deployed to the sluice gate to create a temporary block, to prevent residents from being affected by the tide. Stabroek News understands that measures are being put in place to repair the broken sluice door.

One resident who asked not to be named, explained to this newspaper that approximately 6 to 8 inches of water had accumulated on the land. The man added that after the water began to rise, residents who were awake alerted their neighbours. “Some boys who were up and on the road, they saw the water rising and called up to us…,” the man recalled.

The resident opined that the situation could have been prevented if a report had been made to the Regional Democratic Council, but based on his inquiries, no report of the faulty door was made. He went on to say that the sluice door had been repaired only a few years ago, and it is unfortunate that it has deteriorated within such a short time span. The man believes that the required type of wood was not used on the door, and called on the regional officials to ensure contractors comply with building regulations.

“I know greenheart wood is recommended to be used for works like this, but it looks as if the contractor didn’t use greenheart. The planks on the door broke clean off… with greenheart that is not

A wing of the koker that has been destroyed by erosion

Salem resident Yonette Nedd stands at the passageway leading to her downstairs which was flooded.

Another Salem resident, Pauline took precautions with sand bags.