The death of a 12-year-old boy killed by a boulder that tumbled on him has left residents of the Broadgate community in St Mary on edge.
The residents of the small riverside community, near Grays Inn, fear that other rocks could become dislodged and fall on other houses in the area due to heavy rains that continue to pelt the parish.
The boy killed is Raheem Davey of Broadgate in the parish. He was a student of the Castleton Primary and Junior High School.
His two twin sisters, eight-year-old Shenelle and Jenelle Brown, were also injured when they tried escaping from three boulders that tumbled into their aunt’s house on Friday night, November 11.
One of the girls has been released from hospital.
CAME HOME FROM CHURCH
Information to the North Coast Times is that Raheem and his two sisters were at church with their aunt. Their aunt had sent them home on a taxi to her house, which was a partially wooden structure.
The children arrived home and were watching cartoons on the television in the living room. Another relative was also at home at the time.
It was at around 11:30 p.m., when tragedy struck.
RUMBLING
A rumbling sound was heard and Raheem and his sisters tried to escape from the house. However, Raheem was hit by the falling rocks, while his sisters were pinned under some of the debris that resulted from around three boulders crashing into the wooden structure.
At least two other houses were said to be damaged by the fallen rocks.
Raheem was later found by neighbours under one of the boulders, but he was already dead when he was pulled out.
The twin girls were later rushed to the hospital.
It is understood that one of the girls has been released from the Annotto Bay hospital, while the other girl remains in stable condition in the intensive care unit of the Bustamante Children’s Hospital.
CONCERN
In the meantime, residents say one of the boulders was as large as three metres in diameter and one metre in height. While others say that one of the boulders was as big as a small black water tank.
The residents are fearful that other boulders could damage other houses in the area as heavy rainfall continues to lash St Mary.
There have also been calls for residents of the community along the junction main road to relocate. However, one resident told The Times they simple have “nowhere to go.”
The Local Government ministry has promised to provide emergency assistance for the affected families in the community.
The house where Raheem lived is said to be completely destroyed.
RELOCATION
Member of parliament for South East St Mary, Dr Winston Green, who spoke to The Times on Monday, explained that one of the solutions is to have technical persons to examine the hill and see if the boulders can be stabilized.
He said that smaller boulders have been falling down over time, but have not caused any serious damage.
He also noted that “the relocation of some of the residents” in the Broadgate is something that has to be looked at as the government has lands available.
