Hurricane Beryl surged over Jamaica Wednesday evening as a powerful Category 4 hurricane before heading to the Cayman Islands. Beryl has been blamed for at least six deaths in the Caribbean.

Kingston

The Caribbean is bracing for Category 4 Hurricane Beryl.

Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl has caused significant destruction across the Caribbean. The Category 4 storm has been responsible for at least six deaths, leaving a path of devastation on the islands of Barbados, Granada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Communities on Union Island have been especially affected, with numerous buildings demolished.

Currently, Hurricane Beryl is impacting Jamaica, bringing severe conditions, including tropical storm force wind gusts of 53 miles per hour reported at Montego Bay's airport. Jamaica's Minister of Local Government and Community Development reported that the country has activated over 870 shelters and is in the process of accommodating people. This storm marks the first major hurricane Jamaica has experienced in nearly 40 years.

Before weakening to a Category 4, Hurricane Beryl was noted as the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Mexican officials are now preparing for the storm's potential impact on Cancun in the coming days.



Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica as Category 4

At least 6 people are dead as Hurricane Beryl continues its destructive path through the Caribbean this evening. The Category 4 storm ripped through the islands of Barbados and Granada, as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, leaving towns and ports on those islands partially destroyed. Right now, you're looking at images of demolished buildings on Union Island, which is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Hurricane Beryl is now hitting Jamaica, bringing severe winds and storm surge to the island's southeastern shore. Tropical storm force wind gusts of 53 miles per hour were reported at Montego Bay's airport. Jamaica's Minister of Local Government and Community Development had this to say about preparations for the storm. We are now facing the early rounds of the hurricane. We have already completed all the preparations in regards to our shelters. We have over some 870 shelters. All the shelters have been activated. The reports that I've been getting so far that a number of shelters have started to accept persons in these shelters. The government has ensured that all the necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the country manage the passage of this really major hurricane, the first one we've been having in almost 40 years. Although Hurricane Beryl weakened to a Category 4 storm earlier this week, it was previously the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Mexican officials are already preparing for the storm to hit Cancun in the coming days.

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Hurricane Beryl struck Union Island, part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, overnight, leaving nearly everyone homeless. Grenada also faces devastation and communication systems are down after Beryl made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. Jamaica is preparing for Beryl's approach, with residents urged to evacuate vulnerable areas.

Hurricane Beryl churns toward Jamaica as Category 4

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Bridgetown

Widespread destruction across Jamaica after Storm Beryl

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