Historic Caribbean storm - "Beryl" sweeps through the Caribbean - and approaches Mexico
The Cayman Islands are now feeling the power of Hurricane "Beryl" towards Jamaica. According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm center passed about 60 kilometers southwest of Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands in the British Overseas Territory, early this morning. With sustained winds of up to 185 miles per hour, it has weakened and been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane. Grand Cayman is experiencing strong winds, heavy rain, high waves, and power outages, as reported by the "Cayman Compass."
According to forecasts, "Beryl" will pass over the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula as a weaker but still hurricane on Friday morning (local time). Over 380,000 tourists are reportedly in popular vacation spots like Cancun and Tulum according to government figures. Tourists and locals are reportedly preparing for the storm. The governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, announced evacuations in several areas. Authorities rescued over 10,000 sea turtle eggs from Playa Delfines in Cancun.
Heavy damage in Jamaica
Jamaica, whose south coast was hit by the storm center from Wednesday evening, warns authorities of possible landslides. A woman was reported dead after a tree fell on her house, according to a spokesperson for the disaster management to CNN.
Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, wrote on the platform X, the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, where he sits in parliament, was heavily affected: "A significant number of roofs have been lost, houses destroyed, trees uprooted, light poles overturned, almost all roads are impassable." The Kingston's capital airport remains closed due to roof damage until Friday.
"Beryl," the first hurricane of the early June season in the Atlantic, had developed from a tropical storm into a Category 4 hurricane in less than 24 hours over the weekend.
Devastation of smaller islands
The storm center made landfall for the first time on Monday. Hurricane "Beryl" devastated several small islands in the southeastern Caribbean, belonging to the states of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and made itself known in other countries. At least eight deaths have been reported so far.
This early in the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts half a year, no storm of such strength had been recorded before - according to expert Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University, "Beryl" is the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded in July. The NHC measured wind speeds of up to 270 miles per hour - above 252 mph is Category 5 reached. In the context of climate change, warmer sea water makes strong tropical storms more likely.
Island states call for climate justice
Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and his counterpart in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, called for more climate justice: Small island states, in their view, should not bear disproportionate financial burdens due to climate consequences primarily caused by larger countries. The UN pledged humanitarian aid of four million US-Dollars (3.7 Mio Euro) to the affected countries from "Beryl". The European Union intends to contribute 450,000 Euro.
- Despite the weakening of Hurricane "Beryl," the storm center is predicted to impact Tulum and Cancún in Mexico, where over 380,000 tourists are currently vacationing.
- The Caribbean region, including destinations like St. Lucia, Haiti, and Barbados, has been on high alert due to the unpredictable climate and the potential impact of hurricanes like "Beryl."
- The Dominican Republic and Venezuela, while not directly in the path of Hurricane "Beryl," have also expressed concern over the storm's impact on other Caribbean islands and the potential climate change-induced increase in such events.
- In Kingston, Jamaica, rainfall and weather conditions continue to be monitored closely, following the devastation caused by Hurricane "Beryl" in parts of the island earlier.
- Trinidad and Tobago, situated in the southern Caribbean Sea, has strengthened its preparedness measures, learning from the experiences of neighboring islands affected by Hurricane "Beryl."
- Hurricane "Beryl" has raised concerns about climate change and its impact on smaller island states, such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, which are calling for climate justice and fairer financial burden distribution.
- The Atlantic hurricane season, with its early and powerful storms like "Beryl," has raised questions about the role of warmer sea water in fueling the development and intensity of these tropical storms.
- Authorities in Mexico and other Caribbean countries have urged citizens and tourists to heed warnings and take necessary precautions in the face of Hurricane "Beryl" and other potential storms this hurricane season.
- In the aftermath of Hurricane "Beryl," many Caribbean islands are working on recovery efforts, including repairing damaged infrastructure and homes affected by heavy winds, rain, and sea surges.
- As Hurricane "Beryl" passes through the Caribbean, it serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of small island states to climate change and the importance of addressing climate change concerns globally.
