Historic Caribbean hurricane - Dangerous hurricane "Beryl" approaches Jamaica
Jamaica is set to be impacted by the approaching heavy hurricane "Beryl." The outskirts of the dangerous typhoon have been causing rain on the Caribbean island since night. The storm center is expected to pass over or near Jamaica by the end of the day, according to the US Hurricane Center NHC. People should expect life-threatening winds and storm surges. "Beryl" is reportedly maintaining sustained winds of up to 230 kilometers per hour, making it a Category 4 hurricane out of 5. In the southeastern Caribbean, it has already left a trail of destruction.
Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a disaster area for seven days on Tuesday evening. Additionally, there will be a nationwide curfew from Wednesday between 6 pm and 6 pm, he announced in a statement. The airports of Kingston and Montego Bay have been temporarily closed.
Nearly total destruction on several islands
"Beryl," the first hurricane of the early June season in the Atlantic, developed into a Category 4 hurricane within less than 24 hours over the weekend. The storm center made landfall on Monday over the island of Carriacou, which belongs to Grenada.
According to the coordinator of Grenada's disaster management authority Nadma, Terence Walters, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday night, 98% of the buildings on Carriacou and Petite Martinique were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were uprooted, leaving no electricity, water, or cell phone reception. The entire vegetation on Carriacou was also destroyed, according to Minister Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
"Beryl" a "direct consequence of the climate crisis"
"This hurricane is a direct consequence of the climate crisis, which Grenada, the Caribbean, and other small developing countries are at the forefront of," he emphasized. Grenada will demand climate justice from the international community. We will no longer accept rebuilding year after year and taking out loans while the countries responsible for the crisis remain inactive.
Carriacou has approximately 6,000 inhabitants, Petite Martinique about 900. The approximately 5,000 inhabitants of Union Island, which belongs to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, were also severely affected. According to government reports, over 90% of the infrastructure was damaged. Grenada has reported three deaths due to the storm, Venezuela two, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines one.
Historic storm
This early in the hurricane season, which lasts six months, no storm of such strength has been recorded before - according to expert Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University, "Beryl" is the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded in July. At one point, the NHC measured wind speeds of around 270 kilometers per hour - above 252 kilometers per hour is Category 5. In the context of climate change, warmer sea water makes powerful hurricanes more likely.
The storm center is projected to pass by or near the Cayman Islands according to forecasts starting from Thursday night. On Friday, it will approach the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula.
- The approaching Category 4 hurricane "Beryl" has been causing rain on various Caribbean islands, including Haiti and Mexico.
- The storm's destructive path has made Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness declare the country a disaster area for seven days.
- The impact of "Beryl" has surpassed St. Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, causing nearly total destruction on several islands.
- The storm made landfall on Carriacou, a small island belonging to Grenada, causing significant damage and leaving a disaster area.
- The weather conditions in Haiti have been worsened by the storm, potentially adding to the existing challenges in the region.
- The storm surges and life-threatening winds from "Beryl" have also affected Martinique, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean.
- The Dominican Republic and Venezuela have also been affected by the hurricane's aftermath, with reported damage and loss of life.
- The powerful storm is a consequence of the climate crisis, according to Grenada's Prime Minister, emphasizing the need for climate justice and action.
- The storm has also impacted Carriacou's sister islands, with over 90% of the infrastructure in Union Island, belonging to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, reportedly damaged.
- Montego Bay, one of Jamaica's major tourist destinations, has been closed due to the approaching storm, affecting the local economy.
- The trajectory of the storm is expected to further impact the Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands and the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula, highlighting the ongoing challenges of climate change and hurricane seasons in the region.
