Romanians missing in hurricane Irma found safe

The three Romanians reported missing after hurricane Irma swept several islands in the Caribbean were found safe, Digi24.ro reported. One of them posted a message on Facebook announcing all three were well. The three were on the island of St. Martin and relatives had been unable to contact them for more than 12 hours, News.ro reported. “There are three Romanians. There is my husband and two other Romanians who work there and we cannot contact them. I know… I have been through a hurricane before. They have been living in the area for many years but it is an unpleasant feeling,” Ioana Bercean, the wife of one of the Romanians, had told Digi24. The Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) said it had the case of the three Romanians under its attention and had taken the needed steps to learn more about their situation. The Romanian Embassy in Washington checked with the authorities in St. Martin, while the Romanian Embassies in Paris and Hague with the French and Dutch authorities, MAE said. The Ministry mentioned that the communication with the authorities in affected areas was difficult but it was ready to provide consular assistance, through its diplomatic missions, depending on requests. Irma is a category five hurricane, the highest level possible. It caused widespread damage across the Caribbean and left at least nine people dead, the BCC reported. St. Martin is almost destroyed while the island of Barbuda is “barely habitable,” according to the same source. The hurricane also hit Puerto Rico and is expected to reach the South East of the United States as well. editor@romania-insider.com (Photo source: www.nhc.noaa.gov)