[El Mundo] Report: Jeanne may have claimed Isla Tortuga

[derby378]

Article title: Haití teme que la tormenta 'Jeanne' haya provocado la desaparición de la isla La Tortuga

Rough translation of first paragraph:

An expedition of the UN will be transferred today to Isla Tortuga, on the north coast of Haiti, to evaluate the effects of the storm 'Jeanne'. The first search helicopters have not been able to locate the island, where 26,000 people live, and the authorities fear that it has disappeared under the strong surge caused by the storm. At the moment, there are already more than 500 dead in Haiti.

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/09/21/sociedad/1095755651.html

(Thanks to ginbarn for the newsflash)

[cally]

1. That's horrible!

Does anyone know if most had evacuated?

[ixion]

5. given the deathgrip by the US on Haiti

I doubt if ANY, except of course the elite, were evac'd.

[Maddy McCall]

2. This would be a tremendous tragedy if so.

[Roland99]

3. Can't find the island?!?!

Wow!


OH I hope everyone was evacuated!

[Atman]

4. Discussion already underway...some translations...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2377272

[Ripley]

6. Is this the same island?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=2&u=/ap/20040921/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/haiti_storm


Although there were fears of many more dead on La Tortue island, Deslorges said: "The government has been in contact with officials on La Tortue. Nothing happened there."

[Atman]

7. No...Isla Tortuga, "Turtle Island"

Large, off the north coast of Haiti. There is a map at the link. BIG...it is unbelievable that it could be completely gone.

[girl gone mad]

8. Tortue is the French word for turtle..

Tortuga is the Spanish word.

Île De La Tortue is Tortuga island, one and the same.

Let's hope the report of contact is true.

[Ripley]

9. Thanks for the clarification.

I hate to see another "over the cliff" story on DU about thousands dead and it's being covered up. :eyes:

[shawmut]

10. Couldn't they check a satellite

to see if the island is still there?

[struggle4progress]

11. Haiti flood death toll rising, 1000 missing

<snip> "According to reports received this morning from the spokesman for the UN Mission in Haiti, more than 600 people have died in the northern city of Gonaives and its surroundings, while over 1000 are unaccounted for," chief UN spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters at the United Nations. <snip>
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3593627&thesection=news&thesubsection=world

<snip> The island of La Tortue off Haiti's north coast is also heavily damaged. UN workers say it is barely visible beneath the flood waters, but rescue workers have been unable to reach it to assess the devastation. <snip>
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1095761409069_35/?hub=CTVNewsAt11

<snip> An assessment mission by UN officials to Port-de-Paix, on Haiti's north coast, found that 30 per cent of that city was under water, while a separate inspection was taking place in Isle de la Tortue. <snip>
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0409/S00270.htm