Kingston, Jamaica, July 4, 2024 – Hurricane Beryl has caused widespread devastation in Jamaica, prompting the imposition of a nationwide curfew until 6 am local time on Thursday. Although the hurricane warning has been lifted, a flood warning remains in effect.

Before striking Jamaica, Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc on small islands across the Caribbean, resulting in a death toll of 10. The storm hit Jamaica with winds reaching 215 kilometers per hour, causing significant damage to buildings, uprooting trees, and flooding streets. The most destructive impact was felt along the southern coast, where emergency personnel had preemptively evacuated residents from flood-prone areas. 

By Wednesday evening, approximately 1,000 Jamaicans had sought refuge in shelters. Tragically, a woman in the Hanover area died after a tree fell on her house. Power outages are widespread, and the island's main airports remain closed. Roads are largely deserted due to the curfew. 

Three people were reported dead in Grenada, the hurricane's initial point of impact last Monday. Additional fatalities include one person in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and three others in northern Venezuela. The death toll is expected to rise.

Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines faced near-total destruction, with about 90 percent of homes either destroyed or severely damaged. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves described the situation as catastrophic, emphasizing the massive effort required for rebuilding.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Beryl has weakened from a category five to a category three storm. The hurricane, now moving along the Cayman Islands, continues to pose threats with sustained winds of 209 kilometers per hour. Food shortages are a looming concern as 50 percent of crops in the Caribbean have been lost. Approximately 400,000 people in the region are without power.

The United Nations has pledged $4 million from its emergency fund to assist recovery efforts in Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The international community is mobilizing to support the affected areas as they begin the arduous process of rebuilding and recovery.