Hurricane Beryl kills seven as it churns towards Jamaica

Powerful hurricane, which is rare so early in the Atlantic season, was expected to pass over Jamaica around midday as a “life-threatening” Category 4 storm: meteorologists said

By AFP
July 04, 2024
People walk through flooding from seawater after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in the parish of Saint James, Barbados. — AFP/file
People walk through flooding from seawater after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in the parish of Saint James, Barbados. — AFP/file 

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Hurricane Beryl churned towards Jamaica on Wednesday, with forecasters warning of potentially deadly winds and storm surge, after at least seven people were killed and widespread destruction was reported across the southeastern Caribbean.

The powerful hurricane, which is rare so early in the Atlantic season, was expected to pass over Jamaica around midday as a “life-threatening” Category 4 storm, meteorologists said.

Beryl is the first storm since US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) records began to reach the Category 4 level in June and the earliest to reach Category 5 in July. A hurricane warning was in place for the island nation, according to the NHC, which said rain and flash flooding were to be expected in addition to the life-threatening wind and high water levels.