Hurricane Beryl has left a trail of devastation across Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, resulting in at least three confirmed deaths and substantial infrastructural damage, officials reported this week.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, in a statement from a recent press conference, confirmed that the majority of the fatalities and damage occurred on Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where two deaths were reported. Tevin Andrews, the minister of these areas, detailed the significant loss experienced by the communities. An additional casualty was reported earlier in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.
Prime Minister Mitchell expressed deep concern about the extent of the destruction, hinting at the possibility of uncovering more fatalities as search and rescue operations continue. “The possibility that there may be more fatalities remains a grim reality,” Mitchell said.
The impact of Hurricane Beryl was particularly severe on the island of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, with Mitchell describing the aftermath as “grim.” As of Monday, the area was still waiting for the restoration of electrical power and was grappling with the widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Describing the extent of damage, Mitchell noted, “almost complete destruction of homes, buildings, and gas stations in Carriacou and Petite Martinique.” The extensive damage has hampered efforts to clear roads and facilitate emergency responses. The constrained movement is compounded by debris-laden streets and the inoperability of gas stations, hindering the supply of fuel needed for heavy machinery involved in clean-up operations.
Connectivity to the islands has been significantly restricted. The Grenadian coast guard has been unable to reach the affected areas due to ongoing marine advisories, Mitchell explained.
To expedite the response efforts, a private aircraft has been arranged to transport the Grenada’s Commissioner of Police, members of Grenada’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), and a technical assistance team to Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Additionally, Mitchell has requested helicopter support from neighboring regions to aid in the crisis management.
“As a nation, we are coming to grips with the reality of the devastation,” Mitchell remarked, emphasizing the urgent need for support and recovery resources. The communities affected by Hurricane Beryl face a challenging path to recovery, relying heavily on ongoing rescue missions and aid from both national and international sources to restore normalcy.