Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Mexico’s biggest tourist destinations early on Friday, triggering a red alert in the region after wreaking destruction on several Caribbean islands.
The storm’s core shifted over the Yucatan peninsula, with winds slowing to approximately 100mph as it reached the northeastern region of Tulum.
While it is now classed as a category two storm, down from category five earlier this week, the US National Hurricane Centre continues to anticipate dangerous winds, storm surges and destructive waves in the area of landfall. A hurricane warning has been issued for the coast from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.
Before reaching Mexico the storm swept through Jamaica, Grenada, St Vincent, the Grenadines, and northern Venezuela, claiming at least 11 lives, bringing down buildings and uprooting trees.
The King has sent his “heartfelt condolences” to those affected in the Caribbean and said he had donated to the relief effort. “My family and I have been profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean,” he said. “Above all, we send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who have so cruelly lost their lives.
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“I have seen the extraordinary spirit of resilience and solidarity that people across the Caribbean have shown in response to such destruction — a spirit which has been called upon too often — and so I also send my particular gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are supporting the rescue and recovery efforts. At this most difficult of times, please know that our most special thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives, livelihoods and property have been so utterly devastated.”
The Royal Navy has also deployed a warship to the Cayman Islands after the hurricane left a trail of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving many people homeless.
HMS Trent, an offshore patrol vessel, is expected to arrive this weekend, where the Ministry of Defence said her crew would be ready to “offer assistance with equipment and support to help communities affected by flooding and storm damage”.
It left Puerto Rico on Wednesday, carrying bottled water, basic emergency supplies, and equipment. The ship has a crisis response troop on board, made up of members of 24 Commando Royal Engineers and their equipment.
A specialist rapid deployment team has already travelled to the Eastern Caribbean to provide consular assistance to any affected British nationals, the MoD said.
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Beryl, which broke records for its strength this week, delivered just a glancing blow to Jamaica as it brushed the south coast of the island, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.
But it nonetheless brought winds of up to 140mph and knocked out power for much of the capital city, Kingston. Roads were blocked by fallen trees and power lines downed.
Jon Porter, the chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, said that Beryl was “the strongest and most dangerous hurricane threat that Jamaica has faced, probably in decades”.
Andrew Holness, the Jamaican prime minister, said on Wednesday afternoon that nearly 500 people were taking cover in shelters.
Later, he said that the country had not seen the “worst of what could possibly happen”.
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“We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God,” Holness said.
The prime minister urged Jamaicans to move away from low-lying areas and said that a state of emergency had been declared.
He added that a disaster zone declaration will remain for the next seven days.
An evacuation order was in place for communities across Jamaica that are prone to flooding and landslides.
The island, which has a population of about 2.8 million, hunkered down ahead of Beryl’s arrival. Residents boarded up windows and fishermen pulled their boats from the water to prevent any damage.
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Workers pulled down advertising boards to protect them from the winds. Others stockpiled water and food.
On Monday, Beryl became the earliest storm in the hurricane season to develop to Category 5 in the Atlantic, before weakening to still-destructive levels. Beryl was also the first Category 4 storm to ever form in the Atlantic in the month of June.
The storm was forecast to weaken further over the coming days while remaining ferocious as it passes near the Cayman Islands on Thursday and across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Beryl’s precise path over the weekend is uncertain but experts expect the storm to make landfall along the western Gulf of Mexico on Sunday or Monday. Texas has told residents to be alert over the weekend.
Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, said the state “stands ready to deploy all available resources and support to our coastal communities”.
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The hurricane has already caused significant damage. Three people were reported killed in Grenada and another in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
There were three other deaths reported in Venezuela, where five people who went missing were later confirmed dead, according to officials.
One of the deaths in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, said.
