Hurricane Beryl: Jamaica braces for major hurricane after Caribbean rampage

The death toll from Hurricane Beryl has risen to seven after another death was reported as the storm passed near its shores, Venezuelan officials announced on Tuesday (Jul2).

A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cayman Islands as Beryl weakened but remaineda major threat. The forecasters predict near-major hurricane strength when it hits Jamaica on Wednesday (Jul3), batters the Cayman Islands on Thursday (Jul4), and reaches Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Friday (Jul5).

Late on Monday (Jul1), Beryl was the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic and peaked at winds of 165 mph (270 kph) before weakening but still packing a destructive Category 4.

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At 150 mph winds and barreling towards Jamaica at 22 mph, the storm threatens devastation as it closes in just 300 miles east-southeast of Kingston.

Beryl was likely to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica, in areas at high risk for flooding, officials issued warnings urging residents to prepare for potential evacuation.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on Tuesday,“I am urging all Jamaicans to take the hurricane as a serious threat; however, it is not a time to panic.”

National Hurricane Center Director (Miami) Michael Brennan stated that Jamaica appears to be in the direct path of Beryl.

“We are most worried about Jamaica, where we are expecting the centre of a major hurricane to pass near or over the island,” he said.

Storm surge of 6-9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters) above typical tide levels are likely in Jamaica, as well as heavy rainfall.

A tropical storm warning was issued for the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola.

The hurricane's impact

The Associated Press report said that streets from St.Lucia Island south to Granda werestrewn with shoes, trees, downed power lines and other debris. Banana trees were snapped in half and cows diedin green pastures with homes made of tin and plywood tilting precariously nearby.

Beryl was still swiping the southeast Caribbean late Monday as it pushed into theCaribbean Sea on a track heading just south of Jamaica and toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula by late Thursday as a Category 1 storm.

(With inputs from agencies