Floods have paralysed Georgetown

The Guyana government declared three towns "disaster areas" after severe flooding caused by four days of torrential rainfall.

Presidential spokesman Robert Persaud said declaring Demerara-Mahaica, West Demerara-Essequibo Islands and Mahaica-Berbice will allow the government to tap into assistance from the international community.

Most businesses remained closed for a second day as well as several diplomatic missions including the British High Commission and the American Embassy.

In the capital, a number of major trenches and drainage canals are overflowing, forcing vehicles to abandon some roadways including roads in and out of Georgetown.

Vehicles stalled on flooded sections of the East Coast Demerara Highway, forcing drivers and passengers to come out and push them out of the almost waist-high water.

Road users are also competing for space with animals, which have been moved to higher ground on sections of the East Coast Demerara highway.

While many vegetable farms have been destroyed, livestock and poultry farmers have been moving their animals to some of the higher roads or in bus-sheds.

On Monday, the government announced a flood relief package including providing cooked food, rations and health care.

Drinking water is in short supply in many areas because several of the water utility pumps are no longer working.

Education minister Dr Henry Jeffrey, who is coordinating shelter operations, said a number of schools and other public buildings were made available for residents whose homes have been flooded out.

He said people have been slowly trickling into a small number of shelters because they prefer to stay with relatives and friends.

It is unclear when exactly the rain will ease and even burials have been put on hold as cemeteries are flooded.