He Hurricane Beryl moves towards Jamaica on Wednesday amid warnings from meteorologists about potentially deadly winds and storm surge, after leaving at least seven dead and causing considerable damage in the southeast of the country. sea Caribbeanthe National Hurricane Center reported (NHC) of USA.
The powerful hurricane, the earliest in the history of the Atlantic seasonwill pass by Jamaica around noon local time as a Category 4 storm.
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Beryl It is the first storm to reach that category in June and the first to reach Category 5 in July, since records began. NHC.
The US agency issued a hurricane warning for the island, saying rain and flash flooding were expected, as well as hurricane-force winds and high water levels.
All Jamaica has been prepared for the arrival of Beryl:Shelters have been stocked with supplies, residents have tried to protect their homes and boats have been pulled out of the water.
According to him NHCa hurricane warning was issued for the island nation, with forecast of rain and flash floods, in addition to potentially deadly winds and high water levels.
“I urge all Jamaicans to stock up on food, batteries, candles and water. Keep important documents safe and remove any trees or objects that may endanger your property.“the Prime Minister said, Andrew Holnesson social media platform X.
He NHC It also provides that Beryl “pass near or over” the Cayman Islands Wednesday night or early Thursday.
In the Dominican Republichuge waves were seen breaking on the coast of Santo Domingo when the storm passed south of the country, AFP photographers reported.
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“Without communications”
The hurricane has already left a trail of death in its wake, with at least three deaths in Grenadewhere the storm made landfall on Monday; one in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three in Venezuelaaccording to local authorities.
The Prime Minister of Grenade, Dickon Mitchelldeclared that the island of Carriacouhas been left almost isolated, with houses, telecommunications and fuel facilities destroyed after the passage of eye of the storm.
“We have had almost no communication with Carriacou in the last 12 hours, except briefly this morning by satellite phone,” Mitchell said at a news conference.
About 9,000 people live on this 35-square-kilometer island. At least two victims died there and a third died on the country’s main island, Grenada, when a tree fell on a house, he said. Mitchell.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadinesthe death of one person was reported on the island of Bequia because of the storm. In Venezuela Three people died in the coastal state of Sucre, where two men and two women were also reported missing.
The boss of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesusexpressed concern for the region, saying in X that the organization “is willing to support national authorities with any health needs.”
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“A worrying precedent”
According to experts, it is very rare for such a powerful storm to form so early in the season. Atlantic hurricaneswhich runs from early June to late November.
North Atlantic waters are one to three degrees Celsius warmer than normal, the agency said. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States (NOAA).
Beryl “sets an alarming precedent for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season,” indicated for its part the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The NOAA He said in late May that he expects a hurricane season “extraordinary“this year, with up to seven storms of Category 3 or higher.
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The climate crisis, “main culprit”
The UN’s climate chief, Simon Stiellwho has family on the island of Carriacoustated that the climate change is “leading catastrophes to unprecedented levels of destruction.”
“Disasters on a scale that used to be typical of the Science fiction are becoming meteorological facts, and the climate crisis is the main culprit”, he said on Monday.
At 12:00 GMT this Wednesday, Beryl It had maximum sustained winds of 230 km per hour as it headed toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islandsaccording to him NHC. Warnings have also been issued hurricane and a tropical storm for some areas of Haiti and the Mexican peninsula. Yucatan, between Chetumal and Cabo Catoche.
