Beryl strengthens into a “potentially catastrophic” Category 5 hurricane

Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a “potentially catastrophic” Category 5 storm on Monday night, July 1, 2024, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, as it continued to batter the Caribbean.

>>>Hurricane Beryl caused devastation in Barbados, sinking more than 20 fishing boats

“Beryl is now a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane“The NHS said in a bulletin at 23:00 (03:00 GMT). “Fluctuations in strength are likely… but Beryl is expected to remain near major hurricane intensity” as it moves into the Caribbean on Tuesday, heading for Jamaica.

At least one dead in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines due to Hurricane Beryl

The Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, reported on Monday afternoon that At least one person died and there is “immense destruction” due to the passage of the “dangerous and destructive” hurricane Beryl on the islands of Union, Mayreau and Canouan.

“At least one person died and there may be more deaths. We don’t know yet,” lamented the prime minister of San Vicente.

Gonsalves detailed on NBC Radio that a “very dangerous and destructive Hurricane Beryl has come and gone and has caused immense destruction that our entire nation is suffering. Hundreds of families are looking for their future. Union Island has been devastated. The reports I have received indicate that 90% of the homes have been damaged or destroyed.”

In a video shared on his Facebook account, the president sadly explained: “We have not yet received preliminary reports due to lack of communication, but the islands of Mayreau and Canouan are estimated to have suffered damage similar to Union.”

Finally, he urged the island nation’s citizens to stay at home overnight, as they continue to be under the effects of a tropical storm.

“As our agencies are desperately trying to re-establish communications with certain sections and determine the extent of the damage,” Gonsalves said.

Devastation in Barbados after Hurricane Beryl

The devastating hurricane Beryl destroyed several vessels, port infrastructure and roads in Barbados on Monday afternoon, while Jamaica is already preparing to receive the impact of the first cyclone of the season in the Atlantic.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said in a message to the nation that Beryl sank more than 20 fishing boatsincluding the historic Jolly Roger and Dreamchaser vessels that sank at the bottom of the harbour.

He also said that two of the country’s main roads are impassable and that work is underway to restore traffic on them.

Beryl, which formed extremely quickly and early in the Atlantic, is continuing its path through the southern Caribbean as a major hurricane after causing havoc in Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, and is even threatening the south of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.

According to the NHC, Beryl is expected to weaken by midweek, but is expected to continue its path to hurricane status.

Three tropical storms have formed so far during the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1: Alberto, Beryl and Chris.

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