Tri-Service

British Troops Hunker Down After Hurricane

Article by Carla Prater

Army personnel training in Belize have had to stop an exercise and take shelter following the arrival of Hurricane Earl.

Up to 100 soldiers from the Infantry Battle School are currently in the country on a Platoon Commanders Battle Course.

They left the jungle on Tuesday to return to the British Army Training and Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) headquarters at Price Barracks for safety.

Belizean personnel conducting training at Price Barracks

The storm was tracked heading across the Cayes last night, and made landfall north of Belize City just after 1am this morning.

Winds of more than 75 mph have been reported and rainfall of between 8-12 inches is expected to fall, with the risk of flash floods and mud slides as the storm heads north.

Reuters news agency quotes an official as saying there were over 1,000 people in shelters in Belize City on Wednesday evening.

Surge rapidly coming up now & flooding SE 'hoods. I turned my head & boom--whole place is under water. 988 mb #EARL pic.twitter.com/NCFsSuIY6u
— Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) August 4, 2016

Storm Earl has already claimed the lives of six people in the Dominican Republic and is expected to move on over Mexico later on Thursday.

Local residents have been told to take to public shelters and flights to the country and port operations were suspended yesterday ahead of the storms arrival.

Trapped on 2nd floor. Windows steamed from so many people crammed in.. View of street. #BelizeCity under water.#EARL pic.twitter.com/u1DyM0p8l2
— Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) August 4, 2016