Severe storm "Beryl" loses strength - five dead

Historic Caribbean hurricane - Severe storm "Beryl" loses strength - five dead

Heavy Hurricane "Beryl" has slightly weakened as it moves through the Caribbean, the US Hurricane Center reported, and was downgraded to a Category 2 storm. The storm's wind speeds were close to the threshold for a Category 5 hurricane at the afternoon of Dienstag (local time), reaching up to 250 kilometers per hour. However, "Beryl" is expected to pass near the intensity of a major hurricane over Jamaica or close to it on Wednesday.

The number of confirmed fatalities stands at five.

Within less than 24 hours, "Beryl" had developed from a tropical storm east of the Caribbean on the weekend into a Category 4 hurricane. The storm center made landfall on Monday over the Grenadian island of Carriacou, causing severe damage. The full extent of the damages is still unknown. Grenada reported three deaths, Venezuela two, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines one.

Historical Storm

"Beryl" is the first hurricane of the early June hurricane season in the Atlantic. Such a strong storm has never been recorded so early in the season, which lasts for half a year. At one point, the NHC reported wind speeds of around 270 kilometers per hour. A Category 5 is reached at 251 kilometers per hour. With the ongoing climate change, warmer ocean water makes powerful hurricanes more likely.

Jamaica is now preparing for heavy rain, wind, and a storm surge. The airports of Kingston and Montego Bay are expected to close from the night before.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged the population to prepare with water and canned food and, if necessary, to take shelter. According to the forecasts, the storm will approach the Cayman Islands and later the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula starting from the night of Donnerstag.

National Television and Radio St Vincent and the Grenadines

1. Despite weakening, Hurricane "Beryl" still poses a threat to Barbados, Haiti, Venezuela, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and other Caribbean islands like St. Lucia.
2. The Atlantic Hurricane Center is monitoring "Beryl's" path, which may also impact Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Grenada, including its capital St. George's.
3. Officials in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have activated emergency protocols, warning residents about the potential dangerous weather conditions.
4. The climate change-induced warmer ocean temperatures are making it more likely for powerful hurricanes like "Beryl" to form in the Caribbean sea, such as the Category 5 Hurricane Allen in 1980.
5. Haiti and Venezuela, already dealing with their own political and socio-economic challenges, are now bracing for Hurricane "Beryl" to bring additional hardships.
6. The yearly Atlantic hurricane season, from June 1 to November 30, has witnessed an early start with "Beryl" being the first named storm.
7. Weather Patterns in Mexico and the Caribbean are unpredictable, and residents should be prepared for potential storms, following the preparation guidelines provided by local authorities.
8. The Caribbean islands, each with their unique charm, like Aruba, Curacao, and Bermuda, are not excluded from the hurricane risk, as everywhere in the Atlantic region.

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