Hurricane Beryl on path towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula after slamming Jamaica, Cayman Islands
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Cayman Islands spent Thursday feeling the fury of deadly Hurricane Beryl a day after the monster storm brought destructive winds and life-threatening storm surge flooding to Jamaica. And now, millions living on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, including popular tourist destinations Cancun and Cozumel, are bracing for impact as the current Category 2 storm takes aim at the next spot on its list.
The storm has killed at least 11 people across the Caribbean and Venezuela, including a woman in Jamaica, where the brunt of the storm arrived Wednesday. She died when a tree fell into her home, according to a report from Reuters.
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Hundreds of people living in Jamaica fled their homes and found safety inside one of the numerous shelters that had opened up ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s arrival on Wednesday.
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced close to 500 people were in shelters and confirmed that sufficient supplies and resources were available.
In addition, more than 100 people were evacuated from flood-prone areas in communities such as Old Harbour Bay and St. Catherine. Officials said there was a coordinated effort to get those residents to shelter, and sounded an emergency siren to warn those in the area of the danger.
Hurricane Beryl is responsible for knocking down numerous trees and power lines that blocked roads and knocked out power across the island, but there is so far no word on any extreme damage reports.
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The Cayman Islands were the most recent Caribbean enclave to feel the wrath of Beryl as the Category 3 storm passed just 55 miles to the south of the island before daybreak Thursday.
It was close enough to pummel the island with torrential rains, damaging wind gusts, and dangerous storm surge.
Residents were ordered to shelter in place starting Wednesday evening until the all-clear was given, but early reports from the island indicate it weathered the storm without any significant damage.
Government officials gave the all-clear early Thursday afternoon.
"We’ve had a lot of people out there checking the debris and the damage," said Grand Cayman Gov. Jane Owen. "We hope that it is relatively limited, which is why we are going ahead with the all clear from now.
The current forecast track of Hurricane Beryl moving into the Yucatán Peninsula on Friday.
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Beryl is then expected to emerge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico Friday night and turn northwestward.
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Hurricane Beryl caused far more destruction when it swept through some of the Windward Islands as a powerful Category 4 storm earlier in the week. In the days since, the reality of the destruction and devastation has set in.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in an address to the nation on Monday night that Hurricane Beryl "devastated" Union Island, and 90% of the homes on the island have been severely damaged or destroyed.
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The airport also suffered major damage, with Gonsalves saying the facility's roof was ripped off during the storm’s catastrophic winds.
In addition, at least four people were killed, and Gonsalves warned the death toll could rise.
Grenada's Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, reported the situation is grim, with buildings destroyed and roads impassable due to downed power lines. Mitchell added that government officials from the nearby island of Carriacou reported at least two deaths and that "the possibility that there will be more fatalities remains a grim reality."
According to reports, one person was killed in Grenada, and three were killed in Venezuela.
Barbados also suffered the effects of Hurricane Beryl, but efforts to clear streets of debris and restore services began almost immediately after the storm passed.
Significant damage was reported to boats at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex due to the storm surge flooding.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley toured the damage on Monday and said she would work to support those impacted by the damage to the region.
She also said all government departments, except for schools, opened on Tuesday following Hurricane Beryl's passage.
According to officials, the Port of Bridgetown reopened for business on Tuesday morning, and flights would start to resume at Grantley Adams International Airport.
Crews have also been busy restoring water to affected residents. In an update, the Barbados Water Authority (BWS) said that production capacity reached 85% around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
"While all pumps were secured due to the temporary shutdown and are in good working order, the Authority did sustain minor damage to some equipment as a result of the weather," the BWA said in a statement.
Water tankers will continue to deliver water to those in an area without service.
Original article source: Hurricane Beryl on path towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula after slamming Jamaica, Cayman Islands
