| Monday, 29 March 2010 16:56 Dramatic photos submitted to BahamaIslandsInfo.com today by Grand Bahama residents show the devastation caused by the strike of several tornadoes that reportedly touched down during severe weather Monday morning. One of the massive "Super Post Panamax" quayside gantry cranes was toppled during the storm, which Freeport Container Port officials confirmed caused the deaths of three employees and injured several others. The company did not release the names of the dead pending notification of the next of kin. Other areas of Grand Bahama also received significant damage, including trees and signage along Royal Palm Way, the strip that runs between Our Lucaya and Port Lucaya Marketplace. An apartment block in the area also was severely damaged and a single family home lost a major portion of its upper level floor. A cabana-style bus stop was overturned and thrown a distance from its original location. There are some good pictuers on the site. http://www.bahamaislandsinfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5237:photos-show-damage-to-container-port-crane-and-residences-following-tornado-strike&catid=33:News%20&%20Info%20about%20Grand%20Bahama&Itemid=146 (AP) - 14 hours ago FREEPORT, Bahamas - Police in the Bahamas say a tornado has apparently touched down in at least two places on the island of Grand Bahama. Police spokeswoman Loretta Mackey says there are no immediate reports of fatalities. Mackey says authorities are still checking reports of damage at the island's container port and elsewhere. Monday's storm uprooted trees in the tourist area of Lucaya. There are also reports of damaged cars and businesses. A forecaster with the Bahamas Meteorology Department says heavy thunderstorms are expected to last until at least late afternoon. |