Hurricane Beryl hits Cayman Islands after Jamaica

urricane Beryl is currently battering the Cayman Islands after causing significant destruction in Jamaica. The British overseas territory is experiencing the full force of the hurricane, which has wreaked havoc in the Caribbean since Monday, devastating parts of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Beryl, now a category 3 hurricane with wind speeds up to 120 mph (193 km/h), has brought thunderstorms and gale-force winds to the Cayman Islands. On Thursday, meteorologists reported that the hurricane was 50 miles southwest of Grand Cayman and moving away, but they urged residents to stay sheltered until the all-clear was given.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Beryl hit Jamaica, closing airports and forcing nearly 1,000 people into shelters. The hurricane’s eyewall skirted Jamaica’s southern coast as a powerful category 4 storm, causing widespread flooding and severe damage. Many in Jamaica are without water, and 60% of the population is without electricity. The storm has resulted in at least nine deaths across affected countries, with reports of additional casualties and significant damage in Venezuela.

Mexico’s tourist centers, including Cancún, are also in Beryl’s predicted path. Authorities have opened storm shelters and urged visitors to follow evacuation instructions. Beryl is the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season and has already set a record as the earliest category 5 storm.

Leaders in the affected regions are seeking support for recovery efforts. The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, expressed concerns about securing grants for rebuilding, while Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, hopes to activate the country’s catastrophic risk insurance policy. Various organizations, including the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the UN, and the Commonwealth, have pledged support.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Guardian.