Historic Belize City Lighthouse Tilting

The Bliss Lighthouse Monument, built more than 50 years ago, is showing serious structural problems. Though it may not look obvious, the historic landmark is actually leaning. A recent assessment by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development found that erosion over time has weakened its columns. While there are no plans yet to replace the lighthouse, Chief Engineer Evondale Moody advises the public to avoid gathering near the structure until the problem is fixed.

 

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH

“From our assessment we have determined that the Lighthouse is no longer vertical, from what we have seen. It is approximately four percent off in terms of its plumness and it is leaning towards the east. We found out that there is a number of locations from columns of the structure that shows signs of deterioration, where we have concrete falling off from areas where steel is exposed. The lighthouse is basically built on a pad footing, approximately five meters, and it has a depth of approximately eight point five meter. So it is not on a pile foundation, just on a pad footing. So over the years because of settlement and erosion on the seawall that has created that problem where the lighthouse is no longer plum.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Have you assess the risk or hazard that it poses to those who socialize in that area?”

 

Evondale Moody

“Yes, to some extent we would not recommend that people hang out in that area because we don’t know the speed at which it will continue to settle and lean, because we cannot see exactly what is happening under the foundation. We were able to do some drone footage to see from the south east and the south west. But we cannot determine what is under the slab. But definitely an ere of caution we would not recommend people hang in that area at this time.”