Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said on Tuesday that at least three people were killed – “possibly more” – as Hurricane Beryl battered Grenada and its sister islands the day before with winds in excess of 140 miles per hour.
Mitchell said at a press conference that two of the deaths occurred on the sister isle of Carriacou while the other was on the mainland in Grenada.
He said efforts are being made to secure a helicopter to visit Carriacou given that seas between the islands are still very rough and Coast Guard vessels would most likely be unable to cope with the situation.
“There is widespread destruction. Possibility of more fatalities is a reality and internal movement between Carriacou and Petite Martinique is still very much restricted…,” the PM said, adding that the restriction was a result of an inability to clear the roadway because of a lack of fuel for the machines, downed utility lines, and the possibility that even if the airport was opened, it would be a challenge to leave the area.
Mitchell said the north of Grenada has suffered severe destruction as well.
He told reporters that the response from the region as well as from Grenadians in the diaspora has been overwhelming.
“Clearly, this is a traumatic event in our history coming on the 50th anniversary of independence and we have no choice but to rise from the ashes and to remain united and to build,” he said. “We should never waste a crisis, and I think this is an opportunity again for us to strengthen our preparational response to natural disasters which clearly will continue happening. This is overwhelming proof of the dramatic changes, like climatic conditions and the impact on us as small islands developing states.”
Meanwhile, Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring life threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica. It is forecast to be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday.
(CMC)
