Nine Dead as Hurricane Irma Hits French-Caribbean Island St Martin

Hurricane Irma will exact a “heavy, cruel” toll on two French Caribbean islands, the French President said.

Powerful Hurricane Irma cut a swathe of deadly destruction as it roared through the Caribbean, claiming at least nine lives, and turning the tropical islands of Barbuda and St Martin into a mountain of rubble.

One of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, the rare Category Five hurricane churned westward off the northern coast of Puerto Rico early morning on a potential collision course with south Florida where at-risk areas were evacuated.

St Martin, a pristine resort known for its vibrant nightlife, suffered the full fury of the storm, with rescuers on the French side of the island saying at least eight people had died there and another 21 were injured.

95 Percent of St Martin Ravaged

“The situation in St Martin and St Barts is dramatic — there is no drinking water, electricity, public buildings are unusable, houses have been destroyed. We estimate that some 60 to 70 percent of the houses have been destroyed in St Martin,” said Maire.

According to top local official Daniel Gibbs, St Martin was “95 percent destroyed.”

It’s an enormous catastrophe. Ninety-five percent of the island is destroyed. I’m in shock. It’s frightening.

Daniel Gibbs, top local official

“The island is in need of emergency assistance. I have sick people to evacuate, I have a population to evacuate because I don't know where I can shelter them,” said Gibbs.

Hurricane Irma will exact a “heavy, cruel” toll on two French Caribbean islands, President Emmanuel Macron said on 7 September after a crisis meeting with key ministers in Paris.

Flanked by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, Macron said:

It’s too soon for casualty figures (but) I can already tell you the toll will be heavy and cruel, and the damage on the two islands (St Barts and St Martin) will be considerable.

Annick Girardin, French Minister for Overseas Affairs, was supposed to fly to the island of Guadeloupe late on 6 September, with rescue teams and emergency supplies to take stock of the situation, the ministry claimed.

St Martin, located south of the island of Anguilla, is divided between the Netherlands and France.

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(With inputs from AFP)

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