HANOVER, JAMAICA — Hanover residents faced a new crisis on Thursday when a mini-tornado struck the town of Lucea, causing significant damage to businesses and buildings just weeks after Hurricane Beryl.
The tornado, which began near Lucea Harbour and touched down in the Lucea fishing village on Church Street around 2 p.m., left a trail of destruction. Witnesses reported that while vehicles parked in the area were largely unaffected, several business roofs were torn off, and at least one boarded-up building was displaced from its foundations.
Local resident Leslie, who was helping with cleanup efforts on Friday morning, described the tornado as more destructive than Hurricane Beryl. “When the wind blows, they run and jump the fence. We don’t know how. We don’t know how they got over the fence,” Leslie said.
One building, owned by two women, was completely dismantled, leaving only its tile floor behind. The owners had left for a brief errand and returned to find their property devastated. Leslie remarked, “Even Hurricane Beryl wasn’t that bad. Everybody was saying it was going to be a few days of big winds, but this was just a few minutes and a lot of damage.”
Restaurateur Gary Barrett, who was having lunch outside when the tornado struck, experienced firsthand the tornado’s impact. Strong winds blew the roof off one side of his building, causing extensive damage and a power outage. Barrett has since installed a temporary roof and is managing to keep his business operational despite the difficulties. “It’s a little tough for me, but I’m trying my best,” Barrett said.
He expressed relief that no lives were lost. “It’s very scary to think it could happen again, but the one good thing is it didn’t take a life, so I thank God it didn’t because it could have been a lot worse,” Barrett added.
The tornado’s unexpected severity has left residents anxious, especially after recovering from Hurricane Beryl’s impact. Emergency services and local authorities are assessing the damage and working to support affected businesses and residents.
