THE WEST INDIES, LIFE AFTER IRMA

The grim realities of climate change

An episode from the series EARTH ON EDGE

Synopsis

Located 25 km apart, the islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy have little in common. The former is modest, while the latter is known as a haven for billionaires. And then, on April 6, 2017, they were hit by the same disaster: Hurricane Irma.

Only, the effects were not the same. While 95% of Saint-Martin was destroyed, Saint-Barthélemy could resist thanks to its anticyclonic standards. Also, by appealing to its residents, it was able to rebuild without requiring state aid.