Hurricane Beryl Devastates Caribbean, Heads Toward Mexico

Hurricane Beryl Leaves Path of Destruction Across Caribbean, Threatens Jamaica and Mexico
Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, has caused widespread devastation across the Caribbean, including uprooting trees, destroying homes, and decimating crops. The death toll has risen to at least nine and is expected to climb as communication lines are restored. In Jamaica, intense wind and rain have forced evacuations and shuttered airports, with nearly 500 people seeking shelter.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged residents in high-risk areas to evacuate, warning that the worst might still come. The hurricane, fueled by warmer Atlantic waters linked to climate change, has also flattened Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, causing massive homelessness and food shortages due to crop losses.
With maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, Beryl’s impact is expected to lessen slightly but remain dangerous as it approaches the Cayman Islands and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including popular tourist destinations like Cancun. Authorities in Mexico are urging tourists to take shelter as they brace for the storm’s arrival.
The hurricane has exacerbated already dire conditions in Haiti, where residents have faced sleepless nights due to mounting winds and rain. Venezuela has also reported casualties and significant damage, including injuries to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. Beryl’s unprecedented early formation and intensity mark a troubling start to the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, with NOAA forecasting an unusually high number of major storms.