The port was reopened with the aid of 130 US Marines working in coordination with local authorities and the US State Department. However, there is no confirmation yet on when the port will be reopened to commercial shipping.
The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Billings has also been deployed to provide additional rotary-wing capabilities, US Southern Command said in an update on Tuesday, June 30.
Fort Lauderdale and Billings’ deployments are part of the wider US Government humanitarian response to the June 24 earthquakes. According to a press statement published by the UN on Monday, June 29, the earthquakes left at least 1,700 dead while more than 5,000 were injured.