Hurricane Beryl strikes as Category 5 storm, ravaging the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl, intensifying into a catastrophic Category 5 storm, wreaked havoc across the Caribbean on Tuesday, claiming lives and causing widespread destruction. The storm initially touched down on Carriacou island, part of Grenada, leading to one confirmed fatality and widespread power outages. A second death was reported in St Vincent, although details remain unconfirmed. As Beryl advances, it threatens further devastation with Jamaica squarely in its path.

Videos from Barbados captured the storm’s ferocity, showing massive waves breaching coastal defenses, uprooting palm trees, and flooding the streets of Bridgetown. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines reported “immense destruction,” noting that 90% of the structures on Union Island were “severely damaged or destroyed.”

As Beryl approaches Jamaica, it is forecasted to bring 4 to 12 inches of rainfall on Wednesday, raising fears of flash floods. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Beryl was located about 625 miles east-southeast of Kingston as of midday GMT, boasting winds up to 165 miles per hour. The storm’s early appearance and rapid intensification have been attributed to unusually warm ocean temperatures, underscoring the growing impact of climate change on hurricane behavior.

A hurricane warning was issued for Jamaica on Monday, with tropical storm warnings in place for parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Described as “potentially catastrophic,” Beryl’s impact began as a Category 4 storm and intensified, with expectations of decreasing strength later on Tuesday. However, the NHC anticipates Beryl to pass near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday, prompting widespread preparations.

In response to the impending disaster, residents across the eastern Caribbean have been securing their homes, stocking up on essentials, and fueling vehicles. The scale of the storm has also prompted early preparations in Mexico, where the federal government has urged extreme caution.