Antigua Yacht Club Marina fire causes severe damage!

Antigua Yacht Club Marina (within Falmouth Harbour) is presently engulfed in flames after a lightning strike near the yacht club, as Antigua and Barbuda find themselves in the throes of a fierce tropical storm.

A dangerous fire has swept through Antigua Yacht Club Marina, Antigua, reportedly ignited by a lightning strike near the yacht club, as Tropical Storm Phillipe traverses the islands. No fatalities or injuries have been reported thus far. Government authorities also confirm extensive flooding on both islands.

Firefighters are presently at the scene, working to douse the flames. However, the storm’s exceptionally high winds persist, whipping up the fire and complicating firefighting efforts. The flames have spread across the marina, posing significant challenges to containment.

Numerous local businesses, including Skull Duggery café, Yacht Club Marina Gym, Cloggy’s, Dock Master Office, and Dockside Liquor, are said to have been impacted, with some reportedly completely destroyed, according to government sources.

Tropical Storm Phillipe is causing severe, sustained rainfall in both Antigua and Barbuda. The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service forecasts four to six inches of rainfall over the next two days. Both islands were under a tropical storm warning and flash flood watch as of 4 pm on Monday. However, numerous calls for assistance from low-lying areas were received in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Grays Farm, Point, West Palm Beach, and Cooks are the primarily affected areas. Security forces are actively responding to distress calls.

The storm and fire heighten concerns for the yachting community and local economy, with potential damage to several yachts and businesses. Of note, government authorities have previously highlighted that one of the main reasons for seizing and attempting to sell Alfa Nero was the risk that, in the event of sinking during a tropical storm or hurricane, it could block waterways and trigger an ecological disaster. This would severely impact the islands, whose economy is predominantly supported by the yachting community.