Historic Caribbean hurricane - Severe storm "Beryl" loses strength - six dead
Heavy Hurricane "Beryl" has slightly weakened as it moves through the Caribbean, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. The storm was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane with winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour.
The hurricane was just below the threshold for a Category 5 storm at the afternoon of Tuesday (local time). However, "Beryl" is predicted to pass near the intensity of a major hurricane over Jamaica or close to it on Wednesday.
The number of confirmed fatalities is now six.
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 uncertain. 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. This early in the season, which lasts half a year, no such strong storm has been recorded before. At one point, the NHC measured wind speeds of around 270 kilometers per hour. A Category 5 storm 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 Tuesday night.
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 Thursday night.
National Television and Radio St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Despite the weakening of Hurricane "Beryl," officials in St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago are closely monitoring the Atlantic storm's path, given its potential impact on their Caribbean islands.
- Haiti, like Barbados and St. George's in Grenada, is also keeping a watchful eye on the hurricane, as it moves westward toward the Lesser Antilles.
- The Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos Islands are also bracing for potential impacts, as "Beryl" continues its journey through the Caribbean.
- Meanwhile, Mexico's eastern coastal regions, including Campeche and Quintana Roo, have begun preparations for the possibility of the hurricane's arrival, given its predicted trajectory along the Atlantic coast.
- In addition to the weather alerts issued by meteorological agencies, local governments in the affected countries have started distributing supplies and advice to their citizens, emphasizing the importance of evacuation plans and emergency shelters.
- Climate scientists have noted that the warmer ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, as a result of climate change, have led to more frequent and intense hurricane seasons, making it crucial for countries like Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela to prioritize disaster risk reduction and preparedness programs.
- As the storm continues its course, hurricane warnings and watches have been extended for areas including the southern Bahamas, Cuba, and parts of Central America, highlighting the urgency for early and effective responses to protect both human and environmental resources.
- The Caribbean community, whose member states include Jamaica, Grenada, Barbados, and Haiti, has expressed solidarity with the affected countries, offering support and resources to help in the relief and recovery efforts following Hurricane "Beryl."
