The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Beryl, which tore through the Caribbean over the past few days as a Category 4 to 5 storm, is now moving toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula after wreaking havoc over the Cayman Islands.
At least 11 people were killed by Beryl, a Category 2 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica, Grenada, Venezuela, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. As communication with the island nation is restored, it is anticipated that the death toll will increase.
Numerous Caribbean islands reported experiencing massive destruction. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency said on Wednesday that more than 90% of the houses and buildings in at least three Windward Islands had either been completely destroyed or seriously damaged.
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Beryl passed past the Cayman Islands on Thursday morning and, although it is weakening, is still predicted to be a strong hurricane when it strikes the Yucatan Peninsula late on Thursday and into Friday.
The storm broke the previous record by more than two weeks, becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded. Before Hurricane Emily made landfall on July 17, 2005, the record stood.
Beryl is predicted to deliver potentially fatal surf and rip currents to the coasts of Jamaica, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands, according to weather officials. Later on Thursday, the currents might reach the Yucatan Peninsula and certain regions of Central America; by late Friday, they might have reached eastern Mexico and a large portion of the U.S. Gulf Coast.
