ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell Tuesday stated not less than three individuals have been killed and “presumably extra” after Hurricane Beryl battered Grenada and its sister islands on Monday with winds over 140 miles per hour (mph)
Talking at a information convention right here, Mitchell stated that two of the deaths occurred on the sister isle of Carriacou whereas the opposite was on the mainland in Grenada.
He stated efforts are being made to safe a helicopter to go to Carriacou provided that seas between the islands are nonetheless very tough and the Coast Guard vessels would probably be unable to deal with the state of affairs.
“It’s reported that not less than two fatalities, there may be widespread destruction, the potential of extra fatalities is a actuality, and inner motion between Carriacou and Petite Martinique remains to be very a lot restricted …”
He stated the restriction is because of being unable to clear the roadway due to an absence of gas for the machines, downed utility strains, and the chance that even when the airport is opened, it might be a problem to go away the world.
“Now we have requested help for a helicopter from our brothers and sisters within the area, and as quickly as now we have that, we’ll search to offer an additional replace to the individuals of Grenada, Petite Martinique and Carriacou. Watch video
“However within the meantime, we’re going to depend on a bigger craft to take the Commissioner of Police, safety officers, and a few technical individuals to Carriacou, and as soon as they get there, we may have an additional replace,” Mitchell stated.
He stated the cupboard would meet in an emergency session this afternoon, following the assembly of Caribbean Group (CARICOM) leaders this morning at 10:00 a.m. (native time), “the place we’ll start to plan for the devastation introduced by Hurricane Beryl.”
Mitchell, who has stated he nonetheless desires to go to Carriacou on Tuesday, stated that the north of Grenada has additionally suffered extreme destruction.
He informed reporters that the response from the area and Grenadians within the diaspora has been overwhelming.
“It is a traumatic occasion in our historical past, approaching the fiftieth anniversary of independence, and now we have no alternative however to rise from the ashes, stay united, and construct.
“We must always by no means waste a disaster, and this is a chance once more for us to strengthen our preparational response to pure disasters, which clearly will proceed occurring. That is overwhelming proof of the dramatic adjustments, like weather conditions, and their affect on us as small islands and creating states.
“I don’t suppose we have to show our losses right here, and so after we converse to these nations which might be creating this local weather disaster primarily based on the burning of fossil fuels, now we have yet one more clear and overwhelming proof of the truth that we’re consistently going through an existential menace to our lifestyle led to by local weather change.”
Mitchell stated that it’s time for the developed international locations to “transfer previous the speaking and understand that sources are, in reality, wanted to construct our resilience and to construct our sustainability towards this ever-present menace that they’ve created.”
In the meantime, Hurricane Beryl is anticipated to convey life-threatening winds and a storm surge to Jamaica on Wednesday because it strikes throughout the Caribbean Sea.
The Nationwide Hurricane Heart (NHC) stated that the storm is 625 miles east, southeast of Kingston, and a hurricane warning is in impact for the nation, whereas a hurricane watch stays in impact. Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac
A tropical storm warning is in impact for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti and the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d’Hainault.
The NHC stated that the attention of Hurricane Beryl was positioned close to latitude 15.0 North, longitude 67.9 West, and it’s transferring in the direction of the west-northwest at almost 22 mph.
It’s forecasted that the push west-northwestward will happen throughout the subsequent few days and switch westward by Thursday.
“On the forecast monitor, the middle of Beryl will transfer rapidly throughout the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea at present and is forecast to move close to Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday.
Beryl’s most sustained winds stay close to 165 mph with larger gusts. It’s a class 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
“Weakening ought to start later at present, however Beryl remains to be anticipated to be close to major hurricane depth because it strikes into the central Caribbean and passes close to Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday.
“Further weakening is anticipated after that, although Beryl is forecast to stay a hurricane within the northwestern Caribbean,” the NHC added.
Obtain video – Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell updating on situation in Grenada following passage of hurricane Beryl
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