Belize Hard Hit By 145 Mph Hurricane

by Leroy Baker, Tax-News.com, New York

15 October 2001

Hurricane Iris, a category 4 storm with winds of 145 mph which swept through parts of Belize a week ago, killed 21 people aboard a diving cruise vessel and destroyed more than 95% of buildings in 35 villages, severely damaging infrastructure, including roads, electricity and water supplies.

Aid agencies and the government were quickly on the scene with supplies and assistance for about 14,000 made homeless by the storm, and Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders, who were meeting in Bahamas on Thursday, worked up a special package of assistance. The Belize Red Cross, supported by assistance from other Red Cross societies, set up shelters and provided food to more than 7,000 people during and after the storm. Red Cross volunteers are distributing tarps, food parcels and tents to the families left homeless.

A Belize Information Service (BIS) release on Thursday said that disaster officials were moving swiftly with reconstruction efforts and Prime Minister Said Musa had declared an "All Clear" status. The BIS reported, however, that business was continuing as normal in other areas such as Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker and San Ignacio Town.

"The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is open for business, the international airlines are resuming their flights as scheduled and the domestic airlines are operating. Bus and water tax services have resumed their schedules," it said.

But officials say total damage could reach $250 million. Thousands have lost their jobs in the banana and tourism industries - many banana plantations that are main employers in the region have been turned into fields of stumps.

Recommended