A Port Coquitlam family is worried for the safety of two of its members who are trapped on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, which was hit hard by Hurricane Irma.
Wyncel Chan’s mother and sister, who is attending medical school on the island, were in St. Martin when Hurricane Irma touched down.
On Friday, looting and gunshots were reported on St. Martin, and a curfew was imposed there and in St. Barts until Wednesday. According to a statement Saturday, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb is sending two extra gendarme squadrons and some 150 soldiers. They will be there to strengthen checkpoints, reassure the public and prevent further looting and chaos.
“The looters and all these robbers have been taking what they can,” Wyncel said. “They’ve been taking vehicles such as buses to ram them into buildings so that they can open up buildings that they can’t open so that they can loot more.”
Mariel Chan said she has spoken to some U.S. officials at the airport.
“They have no word on the Canadian government helping us either. Honestly there is no option for us. We’re kind of stranded here so I don’t know what to do.”
Wyncel says even if there were a plane ready for them to take off to leave the island, there is no way to get to the airport.
Wyncel says supplies are low and she’s terrified for her family’s safety.
“They’re luckily in lockdown on the campus itself, but knowing that they could be hurt from something besides the natural disaster – that is crazy to me.”
Chan’s father Alwyn says his wife and younger daughter have been trapped on the school’s campus with more than 100 people since the storm hit the island. He says they are having to ration food. Wyncel and Alwyn are pleading to the federal government to send in the military to get Canadians out of the region.
In a Facebook Live post, sister Wyncel said Americans and their pets have been transported out of the country on planes and ships before Canadians.
Mariel says Global Affairs Canada sent her a text message telling her a Sunwing plane would be available to some of the Canadians in St Martin, but it was prioritized for mothers and young children.
She says right now one of her only options is to pay a U.S. airline $1,500 to take her to Puerto Rico and then she would have to make her way home from there.
Global Affairs Canada says all options are being considered by the government to assist Canadians getting out of the region.
It also says nearly 300 Canadians are requesting assistance in the area.
– With files from The Associated Press
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