Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica on Wednesday, causing widespread power outages and significant damage after already killing at least six people in the southeast Caribbean. Prime Minister Andrew Holness reported that nearly 500 people were placed in shelters as authorities issued warnings for life-threatening impacts such as storm surge, high winds, and flash flooding. Beryl, initially a Category 5 storm, weakened to a Category 4 with winds of 230 km/h as it approached Jamaica.
The storm was expected to pass over Jamaica on Wednesday, the Cayman Islands on Thursday, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday. Hurricane warnings were in effect for multiple regions, prompting the Canadian government to advise against travel to Haiti and other Caribbean nations.
Reports indicated three deaths in Grenada and Carriacou, another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two deaths in northern Venezuela with several people missing. As the storm ravaged through the region, significant damage was reported, leaving homes and buildings destroyed, and debris covering roads.
The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada. The impact of Hurricane Beryl underscored the need for increased preparedness and response efforts in the face of such powerful storms. Efforts to ensure the safety of residents, as well as evacuation plans and emergency shelters, were vital in mitigating the destructive effects of the hurricane.
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