Caribbean News

Major quake hits Caribbean, triggering evacuations

By AFP

Miami - A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Tuesday in the Caribbean between Jamaica and Cuba, triggering a brief tsunami alert and sending hundreds of people pouring onto the streets of Havana.

Caribbean gets smart to cope with hurricanes

By AFP

Saint John's - After monster Hurricane Irma annihilated the farm sector of Barbuda in 2017, growers got smart: among other changes, they moved their crops to higher ground.

One week after Dorian, Bahamians struggle amid the ruins

By AFP

Nassau - One week after Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas, residents struggled amid the ruins Sunday, with many forced to seek refuge far from their shattered homes as the death toll from the top-intensity storm hit 43 in the islands.

Hurricane Dorian death toll climbs to 43, expected to rise 'significantly'

By AFP

Marsh Harbour - The death toll from Hurricane Dorian's devastating rampage across the Bahamas rose to 43 and was likely to climb "significantly," officials said, with hundreds missing even as rescuers plucked desperate survivors from the debris.

Puerto Rico mobilizes as potential hurricane approaches

By AFP

San Juan - Puerto Rico has mobilized thousands of federal agents ahead of what threatens to be the first hurricane to lash the US territory since it was ravaged by Maria in 2017, authorities said Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Dorian gains steam, heads for Caribbean

By AFP

Miami - Tropical Storm Dorian intensified Monday as it approached the Caribbean on a track that will take it near Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic by midweek, possibly at hurricane strength, US forecasters said.

Antigua takes control of troubled Caribbean airline LIAT

By AFP

Saint John's - A Caribbean airline that helps bind together the region's many island nations has been saved from going under -- at least for now -- by a rescue plan led by the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

Prince Charles to make first British royal trip to Cuba

By AFP

London - Prince Charles will make the first-ever official British royal visit to Cuba in March, his office announced Friday, to mark improving ties between the two nations.

Frenchman sets sail across Atlantic — in a barrel

By AFP

Bordeaux - A 71-year-old Frenchman set sail across the Atlantic on Wednesday in a barrel-shaped orange capsule, hoping to reach the Caribbean within three months thanks to ocean currents alone.

A year after Irma, Antigua evicts Barbudan storm victims from shelter

By AFP

Saint John's - Dozens of Barbudans were forcibly evicted Saturday from a shelter on neighboring Antigua, leaving them without a home almost exactly a year after powerful Hurricane Irma devastated their island.

In storm-hit Barbuda, China fills void left by Western 'neglect'

By AFP

Codrington - Steel drums carry a jubilant rendition of "Guantanamera" over the ruins of Barbuda's capital Codrington, as dignitaries and residents mark the latest bit of progress in the island's grueling struggle to recover from Hurricane Irma.

First Atlantic hurricane puts Dominica on alert

By AFP

Miami - The Caribbean island of Dominica, ravaged by the deadly passage of Hurricane Maria last year, was again under a hurricane watch Friday as the first such storm of the 2018 Atlantic season moved toward the Lesser Antilles.

Subtropical Storm Alberto forms ahead of hurricane season

By AFP

Miami - Subtropical Storm Alberto formed in the Caribbean on Friday, giving an early kickoff to the Atlantic hurricane season one week ahead of schedule.

US mulls how to shield Caribbean if Venezuela oil cut

By AFP

Kingston - After preparing Latin American allies for possible US oil sanctions against Venezuela, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited the Caribbean on Wednesday to discuss the aftermath of such a move.

Caribbean bloc condemns Trump's 'repulsive' language

By AFP

Georgetown - The 15-nation Caribbean Community on Saturday condemned US President Donald Trump's use of "repulsive language" to reportedly describe Haiti and African nations.

Dutch St Martin's PM quits after pressure over Irma aid

By AFP

Den Haag - Dutch Saint Martin's Prime Minister William Marlin announced his resignation Friday after a spat with The Netherlands over aid following a devastating hurricane that hit the Caribbean island.

Dutch to give storm-hit isles 600 mln euros to rebuild

By AFP

Den Haag - The Dutch government announced Friday it will release 617 million euros ($720 million) to help rebuild its Caribbean territories devastated by Hurricane Irma in September.

Branson calls for sustainable rebuilding of storm-battered Caribbean

By AFP

Washington - British tycoon Richard Branson called Friday for rebuilding the hurricane-thrashed Caribbean with more durable housing and sustainable energy, to limit the damage of future storms.

Hurricane survivors swap Caribbean seas for English peas

By AFP

Preston - When they signed up to study in the Caribbean they thought they were heading for an island paradise. But when Hurricane Irma devastated Sint Maarten, they ended up being transferred to drizzly northern England instead.

Tropical Storm Nate headed for U.S. Gulf Coast

By Karen Graham

New Orleans and states from Louisiana to Florida are now bracing for a pounding as Tropical Storm Nate is predicted to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast as a hurricane.

UN chief to visit devastated Caribbean islands

By AFP

New York - The world's response to the devastation from back-to-back hurricanes in the Caribbean has been poor, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday ahead of a visit to three affected islands.

Machete, origami and reading: life in San Juan a week after Maria

By AFP

Guaynabo - Alejandro Araujo whiles away the day doing jigsaw puzzles. At night, he sleeps on a hammock on the patio, machete at his side.

Water from a rock: Puerto Ricans cope with hurricane aftermath

By AFP

- The white pipes carved into the foot of the rain-soaked mountain stick out like needles, and from them flows water.Talk about a cool trick. This is one of the ways desperate and resilient Puerto Ricans are coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.