A powerful tropical wave swept through St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday night, dumping 130.2 millimeters (5.1 inches) of rain over a 24-hour period and triggering widespread flooding and landslides that have uprooted 29 people from nine households across the island nation.
In its official situation report released Tuesday, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) confirmed that 17 of the displaced residents are now staying in government-operated public shelters, while the remaining 12 have found temporary refuge in private accommodations arranged with local residents. Five people from three families are being housed at the Buccament Bay Secondary School Shelter, with an additional 12 people from three other families taking shelter at the Buccament Bay-based Golden Years Centre. Other displaced households have sought help from relatives after their properties suffered total structural collapse or were placed under imminent landslide threats: six residents from Rillan Hill, three from Clare Valley, and three from Chauncey are all currently staying with nearby neighbours and family members.
The nation’s primary healthcare hub, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), reported that floodwaters that entered the facility have now been contained, though public health teams are still conducting ongoing assessments to check facility sanitation and tally total damage. In a social media announcement Tuesday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that outpatient services at both MCMH and the Levi Latham Health Centre will remain suspended for a second consecutive day on Wednesday. Normal visiting hours at MCMH are scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
“We thank the public for your patience, understanding and cooperation as we continue to assess and restore services following the recent heavy rainfall and flooding,” the ministry’s statement read.
Beyond healthcare facilities, the Vermont Police Station has also reported flood damage and interior water leaks. Across the entire country, NEMO’s rapid assessment teams have documented 44 separate disaster-related incidents: 15 flooding events, 13 landslides, five instances of blocked roadways covered in debris, and three fallen tree incidents. Preliminary assessments also confirm that multiple commercial businesses along Upper and Lower Bay Street in the capital city of Kingstown have sustained damage from the disaster.
Prime Minister Godwin Friday has already conducted on-site visits to impacted residential areas in Clare Valley and Buccament, affected commercial operations in Kingstown, and the flood-damaged Milton Cato Memorial Hospital to coordinate response efforts. Local police carried out urgent rescue operations in Buccament, successfully evacuating multiple families that had become trapped by rising floodwaters near the local playing field. The Central Roads Authority (BRAGSA) has deployed heavy machinery and work crews to clear blocked roadways, starting with critical routes on Belmont Main Road and in central Kingstown.
Critical infrastructure has taken widespread damage beyond roads and public buildings. The nation’s municipal water supply has been severely disrupted after the disaster impacted the Majorca, Montreal, Mamoon and Perseverance water systems. According to the Central Water and Sewerage Authority, the dam at the Majorca Water Supply System is now completely filled with silt, which has blocked all water extraction operations. Manual removal of the accumulated silt is required before water delivery can resume, a project the authority estimates will take approximately two full days to complete.
On the power front, national utility company VINLEC issued a 3:30 p.m. update Tuesday confirming that electricity service has been fully restored to all previously impacted areas on the island of Bequia. On mainland St. Vincent, power has already been restored to dozens of communities including Campden Park, Roucher Bay, Top Belair, Richland Park, Top Hopewell, Greiggs, Maroon Hill, Lauders, Lowmans Windward, Lowmans Village, Chapmans, Simon, New Adelphi, Stinking Tree Village, Doctor Smith, South Rivers, Mt. Young, Georgetown (including the local hospital), Langley Park, Dixon, O’Brien’s Valley, Mt. Bentick, Overland, Magum, Orange Hill, Tourama, Sandy Bay, Point, and a portion of Owia that includes the local Fisheries complex. As of Tuesday afternoon, power outages remain in effect for Stubbs near Bonhomme Gap, part of New Grounds, Bridgetown, North Union, South Union, another section of Owia, and Fancy.
“Our teams remain mobilised and restoration efforts are continuing to return power to all remaining affected customers as safely and as quickly as conditions allow. We thank customers for your continued patience and understanding,” VINLEC said in its update.
As recovery and response efforts get underway, local meteorological officials are warning residents to remain on alert for additional hazardous weather. As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the SVG Met Services forecast that conditions through 6 a.m. Wednesday will remain cloudy and breezy, with ongoing scattered showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms. Forecasters urged residents and drivers in areas prone to flash flooding and landslides, as well as those living near rivers and streams, to maintain constant situational awareness through the ongoing weather event.