THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 8, 1995              TAG: 9509080518
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: SIMPSON BAY, ST. MAARTEN           LENGTH: Medium:   59 lines

AS STORMS DISSIPATE, DAMAGE FROM LUIS IS LAID BARE ON ISLAND

Lingering storms that kept the outside world from seeing what Hurricane Luis inflicted on this expensive Caribbean playground cleared up Thursday, revealing widespread destruction.

The island was virtually isolated from air and sea access until Thursday, two days after one of the century's most powerful hurricanes hit. At least 13 people were killed as the 700-mile-wide storm swept through the region.

Seven bodies washed up in Simpson Bay. At least two other people were reported killed and hundreds were missing on the island, which is split between the Dutch side and the larger French side known as St. Martin.

The storm shredded the island, demolishing entire neighborhoods, yachts, restaurants and luxury hotels. Thousands of tourists were left stranded without electricity, running water or telephone service on St. Maarten, which appeared to be the hardest hit of the Caribbean islands.

Looters attacked stores ripped apart by the weather.

``They're taking jewelry, electronics, everything,'' said police Lt. John Reeves, who arrived Thursday with a police contingent from Curacao to help restore order.

Up to 2,000 people were homeless on St. Martin, according to French administrator Michel Diessenbacher, who arrived Thursday from his base in Guadeloupe with 250 French soldiers.

Hurricane Luis tore through the eastern Caribbean with 125 mph winds. The storm strengthened Thursday to 130 mph in the Atlantic as it moved northwest at about 13 mph. It was expected to turn further north today.

Luis was not expected to endanger the U.S. mainland, but Bermuda has issued a tropical storm watch. The storm was 640 miles south of Bermuda by Thursday evening.

MEMO: Donations for victims of Hurricane Luis may be sent to the American Red

Cross Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 3756, Church Street Station, New

York, NY 10008.

ILLUSTRATION: SURF ADVISORIES

Luis was not expected to endanger the U.S. mainland, but heavy

surf advisories were in effect Thursday along much of the U.S. East

Coast from Florida to North Carolina.

TRACKER'S GUIDE

Chart

Tropical cyclone data is from the National Hurricane Center and

includes latitude, longitude and maximum sustained winds.

Hurricane Luis

STEVE STONE/Staff

[For a copy of the chart, see microfilm for this date.]

KEYWORDS: HURRICANE LUIS by CNB