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People are cheering on a heroic palm tree that stands defiant as Hurricane Irma rages

Go Hector!

Gianluca Mezzofiore

on September 6, 2017

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

A solitary palm tree has become a symbol of resistance in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Named "Hector" (like the Trojan prince), the tree stands defiant in the port of Gustavia, the capital of the tiny Caribbean island of Saint-Barthélemy, or St. Barts, a French overseas territory currently being battered by Hurricane Irma.

This morning, between 7,000 and 8,000 people were watching and commenting simultaneously on a pretty wild livestream on YouTube of the port of Gustavia during the passage of Irma.

And many of those watching in apprehension were cheering for Hector, who despite being hit by the hurricane is still standing:

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The French government recently confirmed widespread flooding and blackouts on the island. Earlier, the category 5 hurricane passed directly over the island Barbuda with winds of up to 185mph and heavy rain.

As the historic hurricane takes a buzzsaw to islands from Barbuda to U.S. Virgin Islands, the threat grows for Puerto Rico and Florida.

h/t Mashable France.