|
August 27, 2007: Reports
coming out of Barbados state that at approximately
4:45am Sunday morning, part of an occupied apartment
building in St. Michael Barbados collapsed into an
underground cave trapping a family of
five, 2 adults and three children. Cries for help
were reportedly heard coming from the rubble for up to four
hours after the collapse but it wasn't for
atleast another
hour that a two man rescue team
had begun a rescue attempt. At that time the voices
had faded completely. No word on the fate
of the trapped victims had been received up to press time.
Three other families living in the apartment building
managed to get out safely and temporary shelter is being
provided for them in a nearby school.
Residents within 500 feet of the area have been evacuated in
the interest of safety but officials say they will have to
make a determination on whether the area will be declared a
disaster area.
Prime Minister Owen Arthur described the incident as a
catastrophe and said he has put a team in place to manage
the situation.
Late Sunday evening, a US search
and rescue team arrived on the scene of the collapse to lend
assistance |
