Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, is heading toward Jamaica, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The hurricane has already claimed the lives of six people and caused significant damage in the southeastern Caribbean.
Residents in Kingston, Jamaica, are taking precautions by boarding up windows, securing boats, and dismantling advertising boards to protect against the impending storm. A hurricane warning is in effect for Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
Beryl, which briefly reached Category 5 status with winds peaking at 165 mph, weakened to a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. As of early Wednesday, the storm was about 185 miles east-southeast of Kingston, moving west-northwest at 20 mph.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center has warned that Beryl will bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica, urging residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation. Prime Minister Andrew Holness advised Jamaicans to take the hurricane seriously and prepare for its impact.
The storm has already caused fatalities and widespread damage in the southeastern Caribbean. Three deaths were reported in Grenada and Carriacou, one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two in northern Venezuela. In Grenada, the greatest damage was reported in Carriacou and Petit Martinique, with many homes and businesses destroyed.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell reported widespread power outages and impassable roads, fearing that the death toll may rise. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves promised to rebuild, noting extensive destruction on Union Island, Myreau, and Canouan.
As Beryl approaches Jamaica, residents are urged to find safe shelter and prepare for the storm’s impact, which includes a storm surge of 6-9 feet and heavy rainfall.
