Caribbean Hurricane
9-8-1995
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten (AP) _ Hurricane Luis made its way northward today toward Bermuda, leaving behind a wake of Caribbean islands where it leveled neighborhoods, tore apart luxury hotels and tossed yachts onto the beach.
At least 19 people were killed as the 700-mile-wide storm swept through the region.
Two people died on Antigua, including one man whose car was swept out to sea, authorities there said today.
Radio-TV France Outre-Mers reported 30 deaths on St. Maarten, the island shared by the French and Dutch. However, Michel Diessenbacher, a French government official, could confirm only eight dead on the French side of the island. The Dutch Red Cross said five people died on the Dutch side.
There were also two deaths in Puerto Rico, and one each in Guadeloupe and Dominica.
St. Maarten was inaccessible by air or sea for two days after it was struck by one of the century's most powerful hurricanes. When rescue workers, police and journalists arrived Thursday, they found widespread destruction.
Thousands of tourists were left stranded without electricity, running water or telephone service on St. Maarten, apparently the hardest-hit of the Caribbean islands.
Looters attacked stores ripped apart by the weather.
"They're taking jewelry, electronics, everything," said police Lt. John Reeves, who arrived Thursday from Curacao to help restore order.
Up to 2,000 people were homeless on St. Martin, according to Diessenbacher.
Hurricane Luis tore through the eastern Caribbean with 125-mph winds, strengthening Thursday to 130 mph in the Atlantic as it moved northwest at about 12 mph. It was expected to turn north with accelerating speed early Saturday.
The storm was not expected to endanger the U.S. mainland, but heavy surf advisories and a coastal flood watch were in effect today from Florida through North Carolina.
A tropical storm watch was issued for Bermuda, and the storm was 505 miles to the south-southwest at 11 a.m. EDT today.
Luis uprooted telephone and electricity poles and trashed airports and jetties. With phone lines down, it was difficult to determine how many people were dead.
Thunderstorms trailing in Luis' wake had prevented French military helicopters from landing Wednesday. French officials had to wait until Thursday to ferry in food and medicine _ along with volunteer doctors and soldiers.
Other nations also rallied Thursday to help ravaged islands. The British destroyer HMS Southampton was at Anguilla. Caribbean soldiers and police were being dispatched to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Reeves, the police officer, stood at a main intersection of Philipsburg in St. Maarten. He let only residents drive up to a neighborhood where there was looting.
Hundreds of islanders swarmed Rams' Supermarket, which had its roof peeled off.
Reeves said police were not arresting looters who took food, since it would spoil in the rain, but would begin detaining those who took other goods.
Up the street, three men lugged a new television set and an electric typewriter.
Several hotels charging up to $400 a night have become hulks with gaping holes in their roofs.
There were miles of destruction, though many homes remained untouched or showed little damage. Millions of dollars worth of yachts were strewn across piers and beaches, including the Stars and Stripes, the boat that won the Americas Cup in 1987.
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten (AP) _ Hurricane Luis made its way northward today toward Bermuda, leaving behind a wake of Caribbean islands where it leveled neighborhoods, tore apart luxury hotels and tossed yachts onto the beach.
At least 19 people were killed as the 700-mile-wide storm swept through the region.
Two people died on Antigua, including one man whose car was swept out to sea, authorities there said today.
Radio-TV France Outre-Mers reported 30 deaths on St. Maarten, the island shared by the French and Dutch. However, Michel Diessenbacher, a French government official, could confirm only eight dead on the French side of the island. The Dutch Red Cross said five people died on the Dutch side.
There were also two deaths in Puerto Rico, and one each in Guadeloupe and Dominica.
St. Maarten was inaccessible by air or sea for two days after it was struck by one of the century's most powerful hurricanes. When rescue workers, police and journalists arrived Thursday, they found widespread destruction.
Thousands of tourists were left stranded without electricity, running water or telephone service on St. Maarten, apparently the hardest-hit of the Caribbean islands.
Looters attacked stores ripped apart by the weather.
"They're taking jewelry, electronics, everything," said police Lt. John Reeves, who arrived Thursday from Curacao to help restore order.
Up to 2,000 people were homeless on St. Martin, according to Diessenbacher.
Hurricane Luis tore through the eastern Caribbean with 125-mph winds, strengthening Thursday to 130 mph in the Atlantic as it moved northwest at about 12 mph. It was expected to turn north with accelerating speed early Saturday.
The storm was not expected to endanger the U.S. mainland, but heavy surf advisories and a coastal flood watch were in effect today from Florida through North Carolina.
A tropical storm watch was issued for Bermuda, and the storm was 505 miles to the south-southwest at 11 a.m. EDT today.
Luis uprooted telephone and electricity poles and trashed airports and jetties. With phone lines down, it was difficult to determine how many people were dead.
Thunderstorms trailing in Luis' wake had prevented French military helicopters from landing Wednesday. French officials had to wait until Thursday to ferry in food and medicine _ along with volunteer doctors and soldiers.
Other nations also rallied Thursday to help ravaged islands. The British destroyer HMS Southampton was at Anguilla. Caribbean soldiers and police were being dispatched to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Reeves, the police officer, stood at a main intersection of Philipsburg in St. Maarten. He let only residents drive up to a neighborhood where there was looting.
Hundreds of islanders swarmed Rams' Supermarket, which had its roof peeled off.
Reeves said police were not arresting looters who took food, since it would spoil in the rain, but would begin detaining those who took other goods.
Up the street, three men lugged a new television set and an electric typewriter.
Several hotels charging up to $400 a night have become hulks with gaping holes in their roofs.
There were miles of destruction, though many homes remained untouched or showed little damage. Millions of dollars worth of yachts were strewn across piers and beaches, including the Stars and Stripes, the boat that won the Americas Cup in 1987.
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