Hurricane Beryl draws close to Jamaica after leaving ‘Armageddon-like’ trail in Grenada

Hurricane Beryl is approaching Jamaica after causing significant destruction in Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines and resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals in the area.

People living in Jamaica experienced strong winds, intense rain, flooding, and problems with communication services due to the approaching storm, which was classified as a category 4 hurricane.

The US National Hurricane Center announced on Wednesday afternoon that the storm's strongest winds were skimming the southern coast of Jamaica, reaching speeds of approximately 140mph (225km/h).

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in Jamaica issued a caution about the possibility of hazardous storm surges that could cause water levels to rise up to 2.75 meters (9 feet) high.

Authorities urged people who are at risk to seek refuge in shelters and advised those living in areas prone to flooding to get ready for possible evacuation.

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, urged all Jamaican citizens to treat the hurricane as a significant danger in a recent public speech. He also emphasized that now is not the moment to become overly anxious or alarmed.

At least three individuals have lost their lives due to flooding in Venezuela, three in Grenada, and one in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

A warning was given for a hurricane approaching Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. There is also a watch for a hurricane near Haiti's southern coast and the east coast of Yucatan. Belize has issued a tropical storm watch from its border with Mexico to Belize City.

The director of the US National Hurricane Center, Michael Brennan, indicated that Jamaica looks to be directly in the forecasted route of Beryl.

"We are very worried about Jamaica, where a powerful hurricane is predicted to come very close to or directly hit the island," he mentioned during a virtual meeting. "Find a secure spot where you can wait out the storm by Tuesday night. Be ready to remain in that place until Wednesday."

Brennan explained that there is a significant danger in the Caribbean, particularly on islands with mountains. This can lead to flash floods and mudslides that pose a serious risk to people's lives in certain regions.

The storm has impacted South America as well, with three individuals losing their lives and four others currently unaccounted for due to severe flooding in Venezuela. During an inspection of the Manzanares River in Sucre state, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was injured by a fallen tree.

Beryl quickly intensified into a category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, reaching wind speeds of 165 mph before weakening to a category 4. The storm grew rapidly due to unusually warm sea temperatures, which experts attribute to global warming.

In Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, the powerful hurricane has caused a lot of damage. Now, the main important things are helping people, fixing things up, and making them stronger again.

Following a trip to Carriacou, the leader of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, talked about seeing scenes that looked like something from Armageddon, with nearly all buildings damaged or destroyed and the electrical and communication systems almost completely wiped out.

"After witnessing it firsthand, there is no way to truly comprehend the extent of the devastation. It is reminiscent of an apocalypse. Every building, whether it be a school, house, or business, has been severely damaged or destroyed. The farming land has been completely devastated, along with the natural surroundings. The island of Carriacou is now barren, with no vegetation left in sight," he described.

People were forced to leave Union Island because almost all of the houses were damaged. They had to take a ferry to the capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown.

One person who had to leave their home, Sharon DeRoche, explained that she and her family sought safety in their bathroom while the hurricane passed. "It was a difficult four hours, with all six of us cramped in that small space," she shared.

The most recent powerful hurricane that struck the southeastern Caribbean region was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago. It caused the deaths of many people in Grenada.

Roy O'Neale, a 77-year-old man from Grenada, had to reconstruct his house following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan. He described the experience as frightening, with strong winds and flying tree branches for approximately two hours.

Many individuals sought refuge in shelters throughout the southeastern Caribbean, with a group of 50 adults and 20 children taking cover in a school in Grenada.

"Perhaps some thought they could tough it out at home, but once they understood how serious it was... they sought refuge," explained Urban Mason, a former teacher who was in charge of running the shelter. "People have a tendency to become too comfortable."

Experts believe that the climate emergency, caused by human activity, has intensified tropical storms by increasing their strength, occurrence, and destructive capabilities. This is because warmer oceans have the ability to fuel these storms with more energy.

Beryl wreaked havoc on a house owned by the parents of the UN climate change executive secretary, Simon Stiell, a native of Carriacou. The hurricane also demolished the residence of his deceased grandmother.

Stiell stated that the climate crisis is getting worse more quickly than anticipated.

"He stated that whether it be in his home country of Carriacou, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl, or in other large economies experiencing heatwaves and floods, it is evident that the climate crisis is escalating disasters to unprecedented levels of devastation."

The Associated Press provided information for this report