Hurricane Beryl weakened slightly on Tuesday to Category 4 strength, the second highest, as it heads toward Jamaica with warning forecasts potentially lethal winds and storms after causing at least seven deaths in the Caribbean and widespread destruction in the southeastern region.
According to regional authorities, the phenomenon has caused at least three deaths in Grenada, one in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three others on the coast of Venezuela.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated in one of its reports that it expects Beryl to «weaken» when it makes landfall this Wednesday ahead of the coasts of Jamaicabut warned that it will hit the island as a «near-major» storm, with potentially fatal winds, storm surge, rain and flash flooding.
According to the NHC, there is a hurricane warning for Jamaica, which is being prepared. emergency shelters in Montego Bay and secure facilities in Kingston, the newspaper said Jamaica Gleaner.
«I urge all Jamaicans to stock up on food, batteries, candles and water. Keep your important documents safe and remove any trees or objects that could endanger your property,» the Prime Minister said, Andrea Holnessin X.
The NHC also predicted it it swells on the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Spain, where the Dominican Republic and Haiti are located.
A citizen of Santo Domingo in the middle of a street devastated by Beryl.Ephesians
widespread destruction
After losing some intensity last weekend, Beryl came back stronger this Monday, reaching the highest category in the category Saffir-Simpson Scale upon arrival on the island of Carriacou, Grenada, with 9,000 inhabitants.
«Within half an hour Carriacou was devastated,» said Grenada’s prime minister, Dickon Mitchell. «We have had virtually no communication with Carriacou for 12 hours,» he announced.
In a state of emergency, Carriacou had telecommunications interrupted and electricity, with homes and gas stations destroyed. Two people died there and a third died on the main island of Grenada, when a tree fell on a house. Another man died in northeastern Venezuela, in the state of Sucre, which was devastated by a river flooding.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines also experienced «catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surges» that left behind destruction, desolation and at least one death, according to the prime minister. Ralph Gonsalveswho clarified that «there could be other victims.» In the Dominican Republic, huge waves They crashed into the coast along Santo Domingo as the storm moved southward.
A meeting of the Caribbean regional bloc Caricom scheduled for this week in Granada has been postponed. The NHC urged it Cayman Islands and various areas of the peninsula Yucatan and the Gulf of Mexico take extreme measures in the face of Beryl’s advance.
Barbadosthe easternmost of the Windward Islands, was spared the worst and recorded only strong winds and torrential rain. Flooded homes and damaged fishing boats in Bridgetown, although no injuries were reported. There is already an alert on the French island of Martinique tropical storm and around 10,000 homes were left without electricity in several areas.
A beach on the Caribbean island of Grenada devastated after the passage of Beryl.AP
An unusual cyclone
Beryl is the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, which runs from early June to late November. Experts say so unusual for such a powerful cyclone to form so early In season.
«Before the first week of July, only five major hurricanes (Category 3+) were recorded in the Atlantic,» the expert told Network X. Michael Lowry.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also predicts a special season for late May, with the possibility of four to seven Category 3 or higher hurricanes.
THE warm ocean temperatures They are essential for hurricanes, and according to NOAA, North Atlantic waters are currently between 1 and 3 degrees Celsius warmer than normal.
“It is clear that the climate crisis is driving natural disasters to new record levels of destruction,” said the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Fund (UNFCC). Simon Stiell.
The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusHe also expressed his concern for the region and, through a message on X, confirmed that the entity «is ready to support the national authorities in any health need».
In recent years, extreme weather events, including hurricanes, have become more frequent and devastating due to climate change.
