After Hurricane “Beryl” hit, the Caribbean islands were almost “completely destroyed”

The full extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl to the Windward Islands was revealed on Wednesday, revealing destruction and at least seven deaths.

More than 90 percent of homes and buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged on at least three islands, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reported Wednesday. These three islands are all within the Grenadines, and Beryl entered the Caribbean Sea between St. Vincent and Grenada, at the southern tip of the Windwards Islands.

While continuing to track Beryl's movements across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Belize, the agency, along with 19 participating countries across the Caribbean, is supporting disaster response coordination in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Beryl's eye is still a Category 4 storm, which is expected to hit the coast of Jamaica on Wednesday afternoon, pass near the Cayman Islands on Thursday morning, and land in Yucatan on Friday morning.

Disaster Management Authority Secretary General Elizabeth Riley stated that the damage forecast for the Windwards Islands, where Beryl landed on Cariacou Island, is only “very preliminary.” Beryl hit the islands on Monday with strong winds of 150 miles (about 150 mph) and more, and the National Hurricane Center warned that wind speeds could be up to 30% higher at the top of hills and mountains.

The impact on the Grenadines is “quite significant,” Riley said, and residents are left defenseless. Even after restoration work began, tropical waves brought rain and gusts of wind on Wednesday.

Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell spoke about the “complete destruction” of Cariacou and Petit Martinique during a late night briefing Tuesday after spending more than 2 hours in a helicopter provided by the Saint Lucia government.

Prime Minister Mitchell said, “We really can't prepare anything when we witness this level of destruction.” “It's almost like Armageddon; it's almost completely destroyed, completely destroyed. complete devastation and destruction of agriculture. The natural environment was completely destroyed.

“Mangroves have been completely destroyed, and boats and marinas have also been severely damaged. “The power grid in Cariacou is almost completely destroyed. The entire communication system has been completely destroyed”.

However, Mitchell added that it “shows the true spirit of Grenada” to volunteers who have come to deliver relief supplies by boat or fishing boat from less damaged areas.

Beryl damage situation：

Below is Riley's preliminary assessment:

A total population of 6,081 people have been affected by the disaster, and evacuation centers have become an “important consideration.”

Most of the houses and buildings have been severely damaged.

Means of communication have been severely damaged

An estimated 80% of houses and buildings were severely damaged or destroyed

900 people were affected

Most of the islands are living as evacuees

100% of the island's population (12,600 people) was affected

An estimated 90% of homes were damaged or completely destroyed

The Charlestown police station lost its roof.

The entire population of 3,000 people was severely damaged.

It is estimated that 98% of buildings, including homes, were damaged or collapsed

Airport control tower destroyed, hospital roof destroyed

Major damage to power plants

Government supports evacuees

A total population of 300 people were affected by the disaster

Ninety percent of homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Palm Island, St. Vincent & Grenadines

Resorts and desalination plants were heavily damaged

More than 40 houses have been damaged, and the number is expected to rise

Major damage has been confirmed in the fishing sector

Over 200 boats damaged

Heavy damage to coastal infrastructure, particularly on the south coast

Some roads are blocked

Major damage at the southern end

outages

Water outages in Tobago

Road blockades on both islands

An estimated 10% of homes and buildings suffered roof damage.

Airport and runway can be used

Damage is minor

Grenada's Prime Minister Mitchell said St. Patrick's parish, the northernmost tip of the island, was severely damaged. The parishes of St. Andrew, St. Mark, and St. John were also severely damaged compared to the dioceses of St. Georgie and St. David.

“It's clear that agriculture is being hit quite hard. It's clear that a lot of people have lost their roofs. “It's clear that a lot of people have lost their entire homes.