Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, has made landfall on the Caribbean island of Carriacou, part of Grenada, causing widespread devastation with winds reaching up to 150 mph (240 kph). This marks the earliest formation of a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic basin, fueled by unusually warm sea temperatures.
The storm’s intense winds have ripped off roofs, uprooted trees, and caused significant damage across Carriacou and other southeastern Caribbean islands. Reports from NBC Radio in St. Vincent and the Grenadines describe scenes of chaos, including roofs torn off churches and schools, and widespread communication failures.
Hurricane warnings remain in effect for Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, prompting thousands to seek shelter in homes and designated evacuation centers. Grenada’s national disaster coordinator, Terence Walters, reported “devastation” on Carriacou and surrounding islands, with evacuations from damaged facilities such as hospitals.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada has pledged to visit Carriacou once conditions improve, noting the extensive storm surge experienced. Barbados, also affected, has deployed drones for rapid damage assessment post-storm, with reports of roof damage and fallen trees.
Currently located northwest of Grenada, Hurricane Beryl is moving west-northwest at 20 mph (31 kph). Forecasters predict a continued path across the Caribbean, potentially impacting Jamaica and later moving towards Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 1 hurricane.
Beryl’s rapid intensification to Category 4 status makes it a historic storm in Atlantic hurricane records, forming earlier and farther east than previous storms. The storm’s development underscores concerns over increasingly warm sea temperatures affecting hurricane strength.
Authorities have implemented controlled power outages and warned of water shortages, landslides, and flash floods in vulnerable areas. Schools, airports, and government offices have been closed as precautionary measures.
As Hurricane Beryl continues its path across the Caribbean, concerns remain high for its impact on vulnerable communities and infrastructure. Governments and relief agencies are bracing for further challenges as the storm progresses.
Sources By Agencies
