San Pedro suffers heaviest damage

While the destruction of Caye Caulker was substantial, the community, which bore the brunt of Keith’s 125 mile per hour winds and water, was San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Twice the eye passed over the town and like Caye Caulker the storm’s heaviest blows came from the west, hitting hardest not the fancy hotels on the beach front, but the residential areas on the lagoon. Cameraman Brent Toombs has just returned from San Pedro and the scene you’re about to see come unedited directly from his camera, along with his comments live from the studio.

(Scenes of damage in San Pedro)

Up until a few minutes ago I was under the impression that despite the physical destruction caused by Keith we were fortunate that there were no fatalities or serious injuries associated with the hurricane. I was wrong. We have just received confirmation that at least one person is dead and perhaps several more, all were crew members transporting a charted catamaran to the south of San Pedro. Five people were aboard the vessel. Today the body of one American woman, a resident of San Pedro was recovered, while a Belizean, a resident of Caye Caulker, was found unconscious and evacuated by helicopter. Three more crewmembers–two Belizeans and one American–are still missing. It is believe that several other catamarans charter boats were also at sea, but we have not been informed of their status.