Kingston, Jamaica

After battering Jamaica's southern coast with devastating winds and sea surges, the deadly Hurricane Beryl is powering towards Mexico late on Wednesday (Jul 3).

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Killing at least seven people, the Category 4 has left in its wake a path of destruction across the Caribbean. A Reuters report suggests that the number of dead may be 10 already, with more to be reported as communications come back online.

Where will Hurricane Beryl hit next?

As per the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Beryl was pulling away from Jamaica late on Wednesday and was expected to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight. From there, it is expected to move to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

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Mexico, as per AFP, is scrambling to brace for the deadly storm. Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring with it damaging winds, a dangerous storm surge and heavy rainfall over the Yucatán Peninsula and Belize.

Also read | Hurricane Beryl: Jamaica braces for major hurricane after Caribbean rampage

Announcing the deployment of hundreds of military personnel, marines, and electricity workers in anticipation of damage that the hurricane will bring, Civil Protection national coordinator Laura Velazquez warned of intense rains.

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"We will have intense rains and wind gusts" from Thursday, he said.

As of Wednesday night, Beryl was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (209.21 km/h), said the NHC. While the force of the winds is expected to weaken somewhat in the next day or two, the NHC warned that Beryl would remain at or near major hurricane strength as it passed the Cayman Islands.

The Mexican government has prepared 112 shelters, each with a capacity to shelter around 20,000 people. Furthermore, schools have been suspended in the state of Quintana Roo, where Beryl is expected to hit with all its mighty force.

Hurricane Beryl's destruction 

Even as the Hurricane moves towards Mexico, the NHC predicted that overnight, Jamaica may still experience "life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides from heavy rainfall".

Over 40,000 people have been left without power, reports Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, citing a public service company.

Furthermore, a curfew from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm has been declared by Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who has also urged the 2.8 million population to comply with evacuation orders.

Also read | 'Monster Storm' Hurricane Beryl went through rapid intensification. How did it happen and why is it dangerous?

At least three people were killed in Grenada where hurricane Beryl made landfall on Monday. One death was reported by St Vincent and the Grenadines. Three people were killed in Venezuela. 

St Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves prime minister in a statement said, "Most of the country doesn't have electricity, and more than half without water at the moment."

He said that it would take "Herculean effort" to rebuild after the substantial destruction and that "90-odd per cent of the houses were blown away" on Union Island.

(With inputs from agencies)