Options
h»Nai/y News JOIN US ON OUR WEBSITE: ivwiv.nawnews.co.uk
NOVEMBER 2000
£1.00
S Somerset-You're a star!
SAILOR SWEEP IN TO AID STORM ISLAND
HMS CARDIFF came to the rescue when a hurricane smashed into the coast of Belize, flattening homes and cutting off power and water supplies to hundreds of islanders, writes Dominic Blake. Worst hit were the
islands of
work under the command of Lt Col David
San Pedro and vCaye CaulkerA , ir • -A. i » where Hurricane Keith destroyed
l-c'1^- hcad
a third of all houses and half of the trees before the 13()mph winds turned north towards the Gulf of ,. MeXlCO. When the severity of the damage became clear the Government of Belize requested help and HMS
with Lt Col Leigh and Guards officer Lt Charles Thurston. a small group from the shi.P landed at Cave Caulker for a rcconnaissancc mission led by Lt C dr Rob Vitali. T|I(, s jt u a tj o n was dire. Thc tidal surge from 'n*-' hurricane had caused sea waterlo contaminate the mams supply and people {|a^Jr«i™d to dnnk water Irorn thc.r
Cardiff and RFA Black Rover were immediately diverted from operations in the Caribbean. Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards were already in Belize for jungle trainiim when thc hurricane struck.' and thc ships arrived at Caye Caulker to find a team at
"f Ulc B'il.ish Amiy Trainin 8 After briefings on board HMS Cardiff
and Support Unit in Belize,
Although 'the roads on the island were tracks, they were nearly all blocked by fallen palm "trees, telephone Pol^s and pylons carrying heavy cables, At the height of the storm much ol the ls| a"d was under six tect ol water and • Turn to page 23
mosl|v saridy
DONT MISS OUR FAIREY SWORDFISH DOUBLE-PAGE CUTAWAY DRAWING NEXT MONTH