Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, wreaked havoc in the southeast Caribbean before making its way to Jamaica on July 3, 2024. The storm caused significant damage, killing at least six people and knocking out power in much of the capital, Kingston. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a state of emergency and a disaster zone on the island, urging residents to seek shelter and evacuate low-lying areas.
Residents in Kingston boarded up windows, fishermen secured their boats, and workers dismantled advertising boards in preparation for the storm’s arrival. Beryl’s eye skirted the southern coast of Jamaica, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain, with wind-whipped rain pounding the island for hours. Nearly 500 people sought refuge in shelters, as authorities worked to ensure their safety and well-being.
The hurricane was expected to weaken slightly but remain a major threat as it passed over Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The Caribbean coast of Mexico was bracing for Beryl’s impact, with a hurricane warning issued for the region. Mexico’s civil defense agency warned of potential double strikes as the storm was forecasted to reemerge over the Gulf of Mexico and hit the Gulf coast states.
Beryl had already caused devastation in other island nations, with fatalities reported in Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and northern Venezuela. The storm also affected about 25,000 people in Venezuela due to heavy rainfall. The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan twenty years ago, underscoring the significance of Beryl’s threat. Authorities urged residents to stay safe and take necessary precautions to mitigate the storm’s impact.
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