Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, caused widespread devastation on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the destruction as “unimaginable” and “total,” with 98 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed on the islands. Electricity and communication were down, crops were ravaged, and the natural environment suffered extensive damage.
Despite the destruction, the death toll was reported to be low, with three deaths in Grenada and additional casualties in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela. Beryl, which had briefly reached Category 5 status, was expected to impact Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders and curfews.
In Grenada, where drinking water is primarily sourced from rainwater harvesting, officials were concerned about potential water shortages due to the storm damage. The hurricane season’s early formation of Beryl as a Category 4 and then a Category 5 storm was attributed to rising ocean temperatures, indicating the influence of global warming on severe weather events.
Prime Minister Mitchell emphasized that small island nations like Grenada were on the frontline of the climate crisis and called for action from countries responsible for exacerbating the situation. As Caribbean nations braced for the impact of Beryl, residents and officials worked to prepare for the storm’s arrival and manage the aftermath of the widespread destruction.
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