Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica hard, unleashing 12 hours of fierce winds and heavy rain, resulting in at least eight deaths across the Caribbean.
The powerful Category 4 storm moved away from Jamaica late Wednesday, prompting the island to lift its hurricane warning but maintain a flash flood watch. Before reaching Jamaica, Beryl had already claimed seven lives and caused extensive damage in the southeastern Caribbean.
By late Wednesday, the storm’s eye was about 161 km west of Kingston, heading toward the Cayman Islands, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
In Kingston, residents boarded up windows, secured boats, and took down advertising boards to protect against the winds. Resident Pauline Lynch stocked up on food and water, saying, “I have no control over what is coming, so I just have to pray that all people of Jamaica are safe and we don’t suffer any deaths or losses.”
A hurricane warning remained in effect for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Beryl was expected to weaken slightly but stay near major hurricane strength as it approached Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.
