The unusually high sea swells affecting the island were Thursday being blamed for the drowning of an elderly man at a beach on the outskirts of the capital.
Eyewitnesses said the man went into the water at Brandons Beach around 9 a.m. but got into difficulty soon afterwards. The sea there and along other parts of the island's coasts have been characterised by strong waves as a deep low pressure weather system in the Atlantic continues to affect Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) here warned since Tuesday that swells around four to five metres, or 12 to 16 feet, were expected over the coastal waters surrounding the island from late Wednesday and into early Thursday.
Noel Austin, who accompanied the elderly man to the beach this morning admitted there were red flags on the beach when they arrived, indicating danger and that swimming was therefore not advised.
He said they still ventured into the water, but he emerged after realising the waters were too rough. Unfortunately, Austin said, his friend dismissed his advice to do the same.
Meantime, operations at the Bridgetown Port were also affected.
Marketing Manager Freida Nicholls said three cruise ships were forced to leave the island because of the hazardous sea conditions.
"They attempted to berth this morning but the strong swells made it unsafe, and even tendering was ruled out as unsafe," she said.
Tendering is where cruise ships are anchored offshore and lifeboats used to transport passengers to the dockside.
"The port is also unable to work cargo ships but is open for deliveries," Nicholls added.
"We will just continue to monitor the sea conditions and our decisions will be made in the interest of the safety of all the vessels."
Meanwhile in St Lucia hotels on the island's north and east coasts were Thursday receiving a battering from huge waves caused by a deep low pressure weather system in the Atlantic.
As nine to 12-foot surges began affecting the country, some establishments reported that sea surges accompanying the system sent water into rooms and other sections of the properties.
Scores of boat owners took refuge in the sheltered harbourage of Marigot Bay along the west coast to ride out the waves, while beachgoers heeded advice to stay out of the waters.
However, what started out as a routine weather advisory by the Meteorological Office turned into a major public relations exercise for officials of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) as residents panicked that a tsunami was about to hit the island.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Senator Tessa Mangal who chaired a Wednesday meeting of the National Emergency Action Committee (NEMAC) to discuss the country's readiness sought to dispel the rumours.
"The Met Office has advised that it will be giving updates on this activity on every hour. We are appealing to the public to listen to the advisories from the Met Office and not deal with any speculation in the public domain," she said.
"The official word is given by the Met Office, and the National Emergency Management Organisation, keeping the public updated as far as the system is concerned, and they have confirmed that the islands are not going to be affected by a tsunami."
Director of the St. Lucia Met Services Thomas Auguste said swells will increase to 12 to 15 feet through Thursday and into Friday morning.
"By Saturday swells should be back to normal levels," he said. "It doesn't pose a very great danger to most people apart from people who live along the coast. Persons bathing in the sea, tourists and others who use the seashore should take heed," he said.
CMC
