Corozal Town Prepares for Deteriorating Weather Conditions

Tonight, we have a news team in Corozal Town. They will be overnight in that municipality to capture the extent of the winds and rains that residents will likely face when Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula. Landfall is expected just after midnight. What News Five’s Paul Lopez found on the ground this evening is residents scrambling to get in some last-minute shopping at the handful of grocery stores that remain open. Most businesses have been shuttered and many of the main streets in the town have limited to no traffic. The central park is unusually empty for a Thursday evening, while several residents are undergoing last-minute work to secure their homes. Clearly, there is a heightened sense of alertness in this part of the country. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

As the sun begins to set on Corozal Town, the most northern town in Belize, seas behind me remains calm. Resident are expecting the weather to rapidly deteriorate over the course of tonight. When you look at the main streets, traffic seems to be limited. There is practically no one inside the park and businesses have been shuttered, closed, since midday. Several grocery stores remain open for residents to do their last minute shopping. Interestingly, we met two brothers from San Jose who missed or forgot the bus schedule and as a result missed their bus out of town. Here is what they told us.

 

Samuel Novelo, San Jose Resident

“My name is Samuel Novelo. We are headed to San Jose.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Why are you guys standing out here right now and you seem to have a bit of cluelessness in your eyes?”

 

Samuel Novelo

“We the try get a ride because the bus left us. So, the bus was suppose to head to Belize from four oclock but it didn’t leave from here. It went, so we are trying to catch a ride to go to village. Me and my brother.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Were you here on time for the bus?”

 

Samuel Novelo

“Yes, four o’clock, cause that is the time they gave us. The bus came but it didn’t go to the terminal. It went straight to Belize because he didn’t see any customers there.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How high is your chances of catching a ride right now?”

 

Samuel Novelo

“We the try hustle a ride at least dah Santa Clara and then we will try to catch a ride to village.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is it urgent to get out of Corozal tonight?”

 

Samuel Novelo

“As soon as possible. I need to reach home. I have a lot of things to do home, put some nails in the windows and a lot of thigns like that. We were at work waiting for the lady, the boss and she reach late. Now I have to hitch hike and reach.”