By Admin. Updated 6:12 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Scores of people have been evacuated from Union Island in the Southern Grenadines after Hurricane Beryl devastated the island.
Government officials and ministers including Finance Minister – Camillo Gonsalves, Tourism and Sustainable Development Minister – Carlos James, Director of Grenadines Affairs – Edwin Snagg, and assessors from the Ministry of Social Development visited the disaster struck island today (July 2).
They took initial supplies to residents, conducted assessments, and facilitated the evacuation of people who were interested in leaving the island today.
Most people were evacuated by sea as the island’s airport has been destroyed, but there was one medical evacuation by air as a helicopter was able to safely land on the airstrip of the damaged airport.
The three marine vessels that conducted the evacuation include the MV Jaden T (the Fast Ferry), the Bequia Express, and the Gem Star.
Among those evacuated were people injured during the storm and were nursing their wounds at a section of the island’s hurricane-damaged hospital.
“Today, we had a medical evacuation by air,” Minister of Sustainable Development – Mr. Carlos James told One News SVG.
Union Island suffered devastation from Hurricane Beryl with 90 percent of the houses on the islands damaged or destroyed.
Locals told One News SVG that at least two shelters were damaged with people inside them and that the shelters were oversubscribed.
One resident said one of the worst destructive events to have struck the island was Hurricane Janet of 1955, but the destruction registered from Beryl is “like nothing I have witnessed”.
Director of Grenadines Affairs – Edwin Snagg told One News SVG that the evacuees who need assistance with accommodation will be provided accommodation on mainland St. Vincent by the government.
Meanwhile, Sustainable Development Minister – Carlos James told One News SVG that aid was also dropped on the island from partners in Martinique.
Supplies also came in from World Central Kitchen, he said.
One News SVG 