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Hurricane Beryl is hitting Jamaica with life-threatening rain, 145mph winds and storm surge that could raise coastal levels by 9 feet after charting a deadly path through the eastern Caribbean.
High winds from the Category 4 storm have already knocked down power lines in Portland, the Jamaica Observer reports. Officials have declared Jamaica a disaster area and imposed a curfew for Wednesday.
There are more than 900 shelters across Jamaica and an evacuation process for those in flood-prone areas, Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon said.
The storm’s eye will approach the Cayman Islands tonight before heading toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
Hurricane Beryl has killed at least seven people. The storm intensified to the earliest Category 5 storm recorded in the Atlantic overnight before weakening back to Category 4 on Tuesday.
While the storm is expected to weaken later this week, it will likely remain a major hurricane. Hurricane Beryl has the potential to hit southern Texas and Louisiana over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Grenada was left with “unimaginable” destruction after the storm passed through Monday, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said. Officials said 98 percent of buildings in the nation of 6,000 had been damaged or destroyed.
Mexico's Caribbean coast prepares for 'rare' double strike of Hurricane Beryl
The head of Mexico's civil defence agency said that Hurricane Beryl is expected to make a rare double strike on Mexico.
Late on Wednesday night, the storm's centre was about 500 miles (800 kilometres) east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico.
It had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 21 mph (32 kph). Hurricane strength winds extended 45 miles from the centre.
Laura Velazquez said the hurricane is expected to make landfall along a relatively unpopulated stretch of the Caribbean coast between Tulum and the inland town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
Because the coast there is largely made up of lagoons and mangroves, there are few resorts or hotels in the area south of Tulum.
On Wednesday, Mexican government officials moved sea turtle eggs off Cancun beaches in an attempt to protect them from storm surge.
The hurricane is expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it crosses the Yucatan peninsula and re-emerge over the weekend at storm strength into the Gulf of Mexico.
Ms Velazquez said that Beryl is then expected to hit Mexican territory a second time in the Gulf coast states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas, near the Texas border.
In Photos: Damage wrought by Hurricane Beryl
Curfew extended in Jamaica
Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness announced that the curfew imposed in the island nation will be extended until Thursday morning amid continuing adverse weather conditions.
The storm caused flooding, mudslides and knocked off trees and electricity poles, cutting connectivity to several towns.
More than 400,000 people were without power, according to the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, citing a public service company.
"After reviewing the current situation, it was assessed that the continuing weather conditions, in addition to consideration for public safety, public order, and the protection of property, warrant the declaration of a new curfew," Mr Holness wrote on X.
The curfew went into effect at 11.00pm Wednesday (4am GMT Thursday) and will stay through the night until 6am (11am GMT) on Thursday.
"This storm will pass, and we will recover," Mr Holness wrote.
Hurricane Beryl tears roof off school as storm rips through Caribbean
Hurricane Beryl pulling away from Jamaica as it heads to Caymon Islands next
Ferocious winds, rainfall, and life-threating storm surges from Hurricane Beryl were still battering Jamaica on Wednesday night local time as the storm continues to tread westwards, eyeing Caymon Islands next.
The Jamaican government said several roadways in the country’s interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, while some communities in the northern section and the capital were without electricity.
Beryl was forecast to weaken slightly over the next day or two, but still be at or near major-hurricane strength when it passes near the Cayman Islands on Thursday morning and into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday or Friday, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.
The storm is still packing maximum sustained winds of 130mph (215kph), making it a category 4 storm, and was moving west-northwest at 21mph (32kph). Hurricane strength winds extended 45 miles from the centre.
Hurricane Beryl inflicted ‘staggering’ damage on Barbados, prime minister says
Hurricane Beryl devastated Barbados after barreling through the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said.
“While Barbados was spared the worst of Hurricane Beryl, the damage left is still staggering,” Mottley wrote on X.
“Today, I toured some of the most affected areas to assess the damage, engage with those most affected and also chart the course forward for how we build back stronger and more resilient,” she continued.
ICYMI: Watch as plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Beryl
Indian cricket team returns after Hurricane Beryl
India's World Cup winning team reached home on Thursday morning in a special flight sent to evacuate the players and officials.
The team had been stuck in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl since Sunday.
The team, accompanied by their families, support staff, board officials, and media representatives, travelled back on a specially arranged Air India charter flight.
However, despite the delay, enthusiastic fans stood at the airport to welcome the team and the T-20 World Cup trophy.
United Nations provides relief to Caribbean nations impacted by Hurricane Beryl
United Nations officials in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are working closely with local leaders to help with recovery efforts.
“To date, Grenada and St Vincent’s and the Grenadines have reported hundreds of people in shelters,” a UN spokesperson said.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked for the international community to “show solidarity” with all the Caribbean countries in Hurricane Beryl’s path, the spokesperson said.
Texans should monitor Hurricane Beryl’s path, meteorologists say
Projections from the National Weather Service show Hurricane Beryl has the potential to hit southern Texas on Monday afternoon.
As experts work to chart Hurricane Beryl’s path with more certainity, a meteorologist with Fox 35 Orlando says Texans should be on high alert.
“Continues on the point that the Texas coastline to Louisiana should keep tabs closely with Hurricane Beryl,” Noah Bergen said on X. “I think the most likely path at now would be more into far [southeast Texas] or [northeast Mexico], but there is clearly a wide range of outcomes.”
Meteorologists will have more clarity on Beryl’s path after it passes by Jamaica, Bergen said. Beryl will hit the Cayman Islands overnight before slamming into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
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2024-07-04 05:33:00Z
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