Hurricane Beryl, a record-setting storm, has left a trail of devastation across the Caribbean, killing at least ten people and causing widespread destruction. The powerful hurricane, which initially reached Category 5 status with winds of 165 mph, weakened slightly to a Category 4 as it approached Jamaica. Despite the downgrade, Beryl remained a formidable force, bringing life-threatening winds and storm surges.
By Tuesday night, Beryl’s winds had decreased to 150 mph, but it was still expected to be a major hurricane as it neared Jamaica. The National Hurricane Center warned that Jamaica would experience tropical storm-force winds early Wednesday, followed by hurricane conditions. The storm’s center was about 300 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, moving westward south of Haiti.
The storm has already claimed seven lives: three in Grenada, three in Venezuela, and one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reported that four people were still missing. Beryl made landfall on Carriacou Island in Grenada, causing significant damage. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the situation as grim, with downed power lines and impassable roads.
Jamaica issued a hurricane warning, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged residents to seek higher ground and make necessary preparations. “We have an impending disaster, and we have to treat it with the seriousness that it requires,” Holness said. Despite the warnings, some residents, like Lacie McKenzie, a bar owner in Kingston, chose to stay and ride out the storm.
After passing near or over Jamaica, Beryl was forecasted to approach the Cayman Islands and then head towards Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The storm surge in Jamaica could reach 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels, with up to 12 inches of rain expected. The Cayman Islands also issued a hurricane warning, with a potential storm surge of 2 to 4 feet.
The south coast of Haiti and the southern coast of the Dominican Republic were under hurricane and tropical storm warnings, respectively. The National Hurricane Center expressed particular concern for Jamaica, where the core of the hurricane was expected to pass.
In Grenada, officials were working to restore communication disrupted by the storm. Arthur Pierre, deputy coordinator for Grenada’s emergency management agency, reported that 95% of the housing stock in Petite Martinique and Carriacou was damaged. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves described the destruction as immense, with 90% of houses on Union Island severely damaged or destroyed.
Beryl is the first hurricane of Category 4 or higher to appear in June and the earliest Category 4 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is also the strongest hurricane to pass through the Windward Islands, which include Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Martinique.
As Beryl moved towards Mexico, the storm regained strength, reaching Category 3 status with winds of 115 mph. The storm was expected to make landfall on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, affecting areas like Cancun and Tulum. The National Hurricane Center reported that Beryl had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph as it approached the peninsula.
Mexico prepared for the storm by setting up shelters, evacuating small coastal communities, and moving sea turtle eggs off threatened beaches. Despite the preparations, tourists in nightlife hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Tulum continued to enjoy their time, albeit with caution.
The storm’s center was about 295 kilometers east-southeast of Tulum, moving west-northwest. Beryl was expected to make landfall in a sparsely populated area of lagoons and mangroves south of Tulum, likely as a Category 2 storm. It was then forecasted to cross the Yucatan Peninsula and restrengthen over the Gulf of Mexico before making a second landfall near the Texas border.
In Jamaica, Beryl’s impact was severe, with power outages and damaged homes. Several roadways were blocked by fallen trees and utility poles, and some communities were without electricity. Floodwaters inundated streets in Kingston, adding to the chaos.
The storm’s earlier path through the southeastern Caribbean had already shown its destructive potential. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, about 95% of homes in Mayreau and Union Island were damaged. Three people were killed in Grenada and Carriacou, and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In Venezuela, three deaths were reported, with four people missing.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the damage on Carriacou as “Armageddon-like,” with devastation to mangroves, farms, homes, and telecommunications infrastructure. One fatality in Grenada occurred when a tree fell on a house.
As Beryl continued its path, Mexico’s popular tourist destinations braced for impact. Cancun airport canceled 100 flights, and officials urged residents and tourists to seek shelter. The storm was expected to bring a storm surge of 4-6 feet and torrential rains, with isolated areas receiving up to 10 inches of rainfall.
Despite the dire situation, some tourists remained unfazed. Donna McNaughton, a cardiac physiologist from Scotland, planned to wait out the storm, noting that she was used to wind and rain in Scotland.
As Beryl moved out into the Bay of Campeche, conditions were expected to improve late Friday into Saturday. The storm’s impact, however, would be felt for days to come as affected regions began the long process of recovery.
Source: NBC News, CBC News, Reuters, The Associated Press
