Hurricane Beryl, a formidable Category 4 storm, swept past Jamaica on Wednesday, unleashing powerful winds and torrential rains after previously claiming at least seven lives and causing extensive damage in the southeast Caribbean.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Beryl’s eyewall was grazing Jamaica’s southern coast. The island experienced prolonged, wind-driven rainfall, prompting widespread power outages, particularly in the capital.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, addressing the nation on Wednesday afternoon, reported that nearly 500 individuals had sought refuge in shelters. He reassured citizens that the island had avoided the worst potential outcomes, emphasizing a reliance on divine intervention beyond human efforts.
Numerous roads in interior regions were blocked by fallen trees and utility poles, with some northern areas experiencing power losses, according to government reports.
Kingston resident Pauline Lynch prepared by stockpiling food and water. With the storm already making its presence felt, she expressed her hope for the safety of all Jamaicans, emphasizing the powerlessness of individuals against such natural forces.
By midday, the howling winds had stirred the sea into turbulent whitecaps, as the storm’s core narrowly missed the island’s southern edge. Jon Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, highlighted the significant threats posed by Beryl, including storm surges, high winds, and potential flash floods. He described Beryl as one of the most severe hurricanes to threaten Jamaica in decades.
A hurricane warning was issued not only for Jamaica but also for the Cayman Islands and parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The storm was expected to slightly weaken but maintain near major-hurricane strength as it approached the Cayman Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula later in the week.
In response to the impending danger, Jamaica declared a state of emergency and labeled the island a disaster zone, a declaration set to last for seven days. Holness also urged those in flood and landslide-prone areas to evacuate.
Meanwhile, preparations were underway in Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Laura Velázquez, head of Mexico’s civil defense agency, indicated that Beryl was expected to strike Mexico twice, first making landfall along a sparsely populated section of the Caribbean coast and later potentially impacting the Gulf coast states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas.
In anticipation of the hurricane, efforts were made to relocate sea turtle eggs from beaches in Cancun to safer locations to protect them from the storm surge.
Late Wednesday night, Beryl was positioned significantly southeast of Tulum, Mexico, still packing winds of 130 mph as it moved west-northwest. It had previously reached Category 5 intensity, marking it as the earliest such storm in the Atlantic season to achieve this strength.
The hurricane center advised residents to remain sheltered throughout Wednesday, with conditions expected to improve only by the following day.
As Beryl continued its path through the Caribbean, emergency teams in the southeastern islands assessed the devastation, particularly in Grenada’s Carriacou, where significant damage was reported. In total, Beryl was responsible for seven fatalities across the region, including in northern Venezuela, where the storm also caused substantial rainfall-related impacts.
In response to the destruction, leaders from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada pledged recovery and rebuilding efforts, reminiscent of the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, which had similarly devastated the area two decades prior.
