Hurricane Beryl has caused devastation in the Caribbean, hitting Bridgetown, Barbados, as it moves toward Jamaica as a Category 4 storm. The storm has already killed at least seven people in Grenada, northern Venezuela, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Major damage has been reported on the islands, with homes, schools, and health facilities affected.
Jamaica has declared itself a ‘disaster area’ ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s arrival, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness announcing a pre-emptive curfew and the closure of airports in anticipation of the storm. The entire island is preparing for the impact of the powerful storm, which is expected to bring three feet of storm surge to Hispaniola before reaching Jamaica on Wednesday.
Countries in the path of Hurricane Beryl, such as the Cayman Islands and potentially Texas, are also bracing for impact as the storm travels. Emergency response efforts are underway, with Grenada reopening its airport after the storm passed through, and a special flight evacuating the stranded Indian cricket team from Barbados. President Joe Biden has linked the extreme weather events to the climate crisis, emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change to prevent future disasters. AccuWeather has been criticized for labeling their projected Hurricane Beryl path as misinformation, potentially impacting people’s ability to prepare and stay safe during the storm.
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Photo credit www.independent.co.uk
