From: Bush Bunny Brenda Date: February 24, 2014
BRIDGE DESTROYED JUST OUTSIDE BALAMA
Washedout road and bridge from the Balama side.
Way back in 2001, we had 3 days of massive rains that took out 12 miles (20Km) of roads and 5 bridges. Over the weekend, we had 16 hours of rain and another 12 hours last night. The rivers overflowed last night, DESTROYING the bridge just 3 miles down the road from us, and WASHED AWAY over 15 yards/meters of the road.
Road repair crew with first load of rocks to try to fill in the hole.
The collapsing road took the local cotton farmers pick-up with it. The driver miraculously escaped, as the truck did a nose dive, flipped over, and then wedged itself against some trees as the bridge gave way when the truck tried to cross. That was one driver with great angels for sure. (photo shows the truck being drug out of the river) We are temporarily an island, as all roads leading to us from the north, west, and south are closed with flooding that won’t recede for at least 2 weeks.
Cotton grower’s pick-up is pulled from the river.
The local road builders have a camp here in Balama, and are busy hauling in huge boulders to fill the gap left in the road. Nothing like “being personally motivated” since they don’t like being trapped on our island. (Never seen them work so fast.) Not sure how long it will take them as that is a huge hole to fill and the rain is still falling, and the water is flowing hard through that area. This is where everyone learns patience whether they want to or not. Only way out is by helicopter and I don’t have any of those in stock. (Tee Hee). Our visitor was already at the airport when Eric discovered the road closed, so she changed her ticket to next week. Hopefully all will be back to muddy normal by then.
Rainy season can be so much fun! (We do keep a canoe on hand, but don’t think I’d want to try white water rafting on that river.) Blessings, Brenda Lange Eric Dry (photographer)