Damage caused on Union Island (CMC photo)
July 1, 2024
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) — Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves confirmed one death Monday night as Hurricane Beryl passed through the country, and said “further deaths are possible” on the Grenadine island of Bequia.
The Grenadines have 32 islands, the largest of which are Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island. Some of the smaller islands are privately owned.
“Unfortunately, one person has been reported dead… We don’t have the details. There may be more deaths, but we don’t know yet,” Governor Gonsalves said in an address to the nation, describing the hurricane as “devastating and dangerous” and saying it had left “immeasurable destruction, pain and suffering across the country at this very moment.”
“Union Island has been devastated. Reports I have received are that 90 percent of the homes have been severely damaged or destroyed,” he said, adding that the roofs of many buildings, including the airport building, had been destroyed.
The Prime Minister also assured the nation that reconstruction efforts would begin on Tuesday and that Kingstown was receiving encouraging support from countries in the region as it began its reconstruction efforts.
{“jamaica-observer”:”Jamaica Observer”}
