Tropical Storm Shary, location as of Saturday - Photo National Hurrican Center
Tropical Storm Shary moved into the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean after missing Bermuda. The storm, which has sustained winds of 70 mph as it approached the island nation, prompted officials to shut down ferry services and urge residents to secure boats.
A new threat, Hurricane Tomas, hit the eastern Caribbean on Saturday, damaging homes and ripping down power lines.
Officials in St. Vincent were working to confirm reports that the storm resulted in three deaths, including two men who may have been blown from a roof, said Jimmy Prince, a spokesman for the island’s emergency management services.
Strong winds ripped the roofs from about 100 homes and over 400 people were seeking shelter as the island lost power during the storms emergency, he said.
“Many of them are workers who were unable to get off Mustique,” he said, referring to a small island south of St. Vincent.
On St. Lucia, winds tore the roof off a school, stadium, a hospital and pushed down a cross from the top of historic church, officials said.
Sudden rain forced motorists from the roads as a landslide covered a major highway between the capital and the island’s southern communities.
Prime Minister Stephenson King apologized for being stranded on Barbados where he had gone for an official trip.
“It hurts me to know that I am not around to give courage, strength and guidance at a time when we all must bond together and give support to each other,” he said in a statement.