KINGSTON, Jamaica – Hurricane Beryl, a formidable Category 4 storm, is approaching Jamaica, bringing with it destructive winds and the potential for significant damage. As of Wednesday morning, the hurricane was approximately 300 kilometers east-southeast of Kingston, the Jamaican capital, with maximum sustained winds of 230 kilometers per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.
After causing widespread devastation on smaller islands in the eastern Caribbean, including Grenada, where it created “Armageddon-like” conditions and claimed at least seven lives, Beryl is now set to impact Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The hurricane has already flattened homes and severely damaged agriculture in its path.
The US National Hurricane Centre has issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, emphasizing the life-threatening nature of the storm’s winds and storm surge. Beryl is expected to bring hurricane conditions to Jamaica by midday local time on Wednesday, with tropical storm-strength winds arriving in the late morning, making any last-minute preparations hazardous.
In Kingston, the threat of Beryl has led to heightened activity as residents prepare for the storm. Long lines of cars have formed at gas stations, with people filling up on fuel and additional containers. Shops and houses are being boarded up, and essential supplies such as water are being stockpiled.
“Yeah, right now [we’re] worrying about the storm. You know it’s Category 5, and in Jamaica people are worried and always shopping and buying things as in this store,” said Andre, a salesperson in a local store, who preferred not to give his full name.
Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, has set a record as the earliest storm to reach the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Scientists suggest that the rapid intensification of Beryl may be linked to human-caused climate change.
As the storm continues its path towards Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the region braces for impact, hoping to mitigate the effects of what has already proven to be a devastating hurricane.