Hurricane Beryl has churned into Jamaica, with forecasters warning of potentially lethal gusts and storm surge, after killing at least seven people and wreaking havoc across the southeast Caribbean.
The severe hurricane, which is unusual for this early in the Atlantic season, decreased Tuesday but remained an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, forecasters said.
It is predicted to pass “near or over” Jamaica. Beryl is the first hurricane to reach Category 4 since the US National Hurricane Centre began keeping records in June, and the first to reach Category 5 in July.
The National Hurricane Centre issued a hurricane warning for the island nation, predicting rain and flash flooding in addition to life-threatening winds and rising sea levels.
Emergency reaction preparations were underway throughout Jamaica, with shelters stockpiling supplies, individuals securing their houses, and boats being withdrawn from the ocean.
“I strongly advise all Jamaicans to stock up on food, batteries, candles, and water. Secure your vital documents and clear off any trees or anything that could threaten your property,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated on X. Hurricane warnings have also been issued in the Cayman Islands, where Beryl is “expected to pass near or over” on Wednesday night or early Thursday, according to the NHC.
Massive waves crashed into the shore near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic as the hurricane moved south, according to photographs.
Beryl has already claimed the lives of at least three people in Grenada, where it made landfall on Monday, one in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and three in Venezuela, according to officials.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell stated the island of Carriacou, which was hit by the storm’s eye, is almost completely cut off, with residences, telecommunications, and fuel infrastructure destroyed.
“We’ve had virtually no communication with Carriacou in the last 12 hours, except briefly this morning by satellite phone,” Mitchell told a news conference.
