The deadly hurricane became the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded – with winds up to 165mph – before it was downgraded as it roared throughout the Caribbean
The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Beryl that killed at least seven people across the Caribbean can be seen in a number of heartbreaking photos.
The Category 4 storm has left thousands of people without homes as it most recently battered Jamaica and continues on towards Mexico. Beryl was first classed as a Category 5 storm, the highest possible, following wind speeds peaked at 165mph.
However, it was later downgraded after its violent speeds had slightly dropped. A hurricane warning is still in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac as well as Haiti’s southern coast and the Yucatan’s east coast.
As of early Thursday morning, the centre of storm was around 500 miles east-southeast of Tulum in Mexico is expected to reach the vicinity of the Cayman Islands and move into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula by Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It also expected to lose some of its force en-route and be downgraded possibly to a Category 2 storm.
Officials have reported three fatalities in Grenada and Carriacou, and one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Two more bodies were discovered in northern Venezuela, where five people are reported missing. While Kerryne James, minister of climate resilience, environment and renewable energy, reported a death in Grenada caused by a large tree falling on a house.
Grenada prime minister Dickon Mitchell said 98% of buildings on two of its smaller islands – Carriacou and Petite Martinique – were destroyed by Beryl and described the storm as “Armageddon-like”. Elsewhere, the Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to be donating privately to relief efforts as a royal source said: “The Prince and Princess of Wales are donating privately to the relief efforts. They continue to follow the impact of Hurricane Beryl closely.”
