The British Virgin Islands (BVI) awoke to a scene of widespread damage on Wednesday morning after Tropical Storm Ernesto swept through the territory overnight. The storm, which brought hurricane-like conditions, battered the territory for over 12 hours, beginning around 8 PM on Tuesday, August 13th.
Residents endured a night of heavy rainfall and powerful winds as Ernesto unleashed its fury on the archipelago. By daybreak, the extent of the storm’s impact became clear as streets across Tortola bore evidence of its destructive path.
Fallen trees, damaged infrastructure, and floodwaters painted a grim picture of the tropical storm’s intensity.
Adding to the ordeal, widespread electrical outages plunged many residents into darkness as they weathered the storm. The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) now faces the daunting task of restoring power to affected areas, with numerous reports of downed power lines and broken poles across the territory.
In a statement, BVIEC expressed gratitude for the community’s patience during the outages and assured residents that teams are diligently conducting damage assessments. The corporation aims to restore electricity as swiftly as possible, though the extent of the damage suggests it may be a challenging process.
As soon as the rain subsided in the early hours of Wednesday, August 14th, emergency response teams sprang into action. Crews were quickly mobilized to clear debris-strewn roads and assess the full scope of the damage left in Ernesto’s wake.
While the territory is no stranger to tropical storms, the ferocity of Ernesto caught many off guard. The storm’s rapid intensification as it approached the territory left little time for extensive preparations, amplifying its impact on the islands.
Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution as clean-up efforts continue, warning of potential hazards such as unstable structures, flooded areas, and loose debris. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined.