GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands (AP) -- The crucial tourism industry was out of commission Monday in Grand Turk and likely to remain that way for weeks or even months as the low-lying island rebuilds from the devastation of Hurricane Ike.



A man stands inside a home that was destroyed by Hurricane Ike on the island of Grand Turk.




The powerful storm destroyed homes, scattered power lines, uprooted trees and tossed cars and small trucks around like toys. Nearly every building, including the airport control tower and pastel colored colonial buildings, sustained some damage in the Category 4 hurricane.

"I've been living in the Caribbean for 25 years and I've never seen this kind of destruction," said Giora Israel, senior vice president of strategic planning for Carnival Corp., which owns the cruise ship pier and terminal on the island.

Rain and wind caused an estimated $5-$10 million in damage to the terminal and the grounds around it -- ripping out some 500 palm trees that were planted just six months ago, Israel said. The pier itself, built to withstand a Category 5 storm, was unscathed.

FULL ARTICLE HERE: Grand Turk tourism pummeled by Hurricane Ike - CNN.com

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