Press Release: Belize Tourism Board
October 10, 2001
BELIZE CITY, Belize -- The Prime Minister of Belize in an address to the nation, officially declared Belize in
the ``All Clear'' state after the passing of Hurricane Iris, which moved over the southern region of the country
last night.
Initial reports indicate that while Belize City and points to the north were virtually spared storm damage, places
along Belize's southern coast where Hurricane Iris made landfall last night appear not to have fared as well and
there are reports of lives lost. Wave Dancer Cruises, a popular charter company that operates out of Miami, Florida,
reports that one of its boats had capsized.
According to Tom Conlin, Executive Vice President of Peter Hughes Travel Agency, the company that owns and operates
Wave Dancer cruises, the boat was secured in Big Creek, a southern deep-water port, where he says many ships go
to ride out these storms. ``Early reports are very sketchy, but apparently a wave surge snapped the lines and the
boat capsized, sending all 28 people aboard, including the crew and a group from a dive club in Richmond, VA, into
the water. As of this morning we have reports of eight survivors, nine bodies have been found and 11 are still
unaccounted for,'' Conlin states.
Recovery and rebuilding efforts are currently underway. The Government of Belize has emergency teams in the south
assisting with recovery efforts and assessing possible damage throughout the region.
It is business as usual for other areas of the country, including the areas of Belize City, San Pedro/Ambergris
Caye, Caye Caulker and San Ignacio Town. The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is open for business, the
international airlines are resuming their flights as scheduled, and the domestic airlines are operating. Bus and
water taxi services have resumed their schedules.
Tourism Minister, Mark Espat, is conducting a preliminary assessment of the affected areas, together with the Ministry
of National Security, in an aerial and ground inspection. The Belize Tourism Board is lending its full support
to the people affected in the southern region of the country and has dispatched teams, including Tourism Police
Units to the areas most affected, which include Placencia, Monkey River and surrounding villages. The teams will
also be conducting a preliminary assessment of the damages to the industry and identifying immediate needs requiring
instant attention.
``Our hearts go out to the families of those lost in the Wave Dancer tragedy,'' says Director of Tourism, Tracy
Taegar. ``We are working closely with local authorities in the search and recovery effort and will continue to
assess the damage from the storm and keep travelers advised.''
The Belize Tourism Board continues to work with the private sector, its counterparts in the United States who sell
vacation packages to Belize, the travel agents, the airlines and the media to assist in the recovery efforts and
to answer questions that may affect their clients' immediate travel plans and to accurately advise them on the
current status in the affected areas. The Belize Tourism Board's toll-free number, 1-800-624-0686 is operational
and standing by to render information to travelers to Belize. Further updates on the affected areas will be provided
as they become available.
For more information and updates on travel to Belize, kindly contact the Marketing Department at the Belize Tourism
Board or visit the web site at http://www.travelbelize.org or http://www.belizeemergency.net.
SOURCE: Belize Tourism Board