8 parishes on alert as rains trigger landslides, flooding

Heavy rainfall triggered a major landslide that left 15 students and several teachers stranded at Johnson Mountain Primary School in St Thomas on Friday, as blocked roads, fallen trees and flooding disrupted sections of the parish and the Meteorological Service issued a flash flood watch for eight parishes.

The watch, which remains in effect until 5 p.m. on Sunday, covers low-lying and flood-prone areas of St Ann, St Mary, Portland, St Thomas, Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine and Clarendon.

Full coverageMeteorological Service Issues Flash Flood Watch for Eight Jamaican Parishes9 reports

A flash flood is a sudden, rapid rise of water over normally dry land, often caused by intense rainfall over a short period. It can develop quickly, leaving little time for people to escape rising water or move to safety.