Barbados faced its most severe flooding in a decade over the weekend, as torrential rains caused widespread devastation and tragically claimed the life of a 58-year-old St George resident, Terry Kellman. Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, during a tour of the hardest-hit areas in St Peter and St Lucy on Monday, emphasized the unprecedented scale and speed of the disaster. ‘The damage in the Charles Rowe Bridge area was particularly severe, with multiple vehicles washed away and submerged,’ Abrahams noted. He highlighted that vehicles were swept from as far as St George Parish Church to the junction near Chefette at Charles Rowe Bridge, a phenomenon never before witnessed on the island. The Barbados Meteorological Services confirmed that the sheer volume of rainfall—up to nine inches (228.6mm) in 24 hours—made flooding inevitable, even with the best engineering solutions. ‘The water rushed downhill from higher parishes, and all we could do was mitigate the aftermath,’ Abrahams explained. Despite the tragedy, the minister praised the heroic efforts of emergency responders, including the Barbados Defence Force, Coast Guard, and Fire Service, who worked tirelessly through the night to rescue trapped individuals and recover vehicles. The search for Kellman, who was swept away near Charles Rowe Bridge, involved a coordinated effort across multiple agencies, with the BDF’s drone unit playing a crucial role. Kellman’s body was recovered early Monday, and his family was informed. Abrahams expressed deep condolences on behalf of the government, acknowledging the pain felt by Kellman’s loved ones and commending the emergency services for their relentless efforts.