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Jamaica is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm with winds near 140 mph (220 km/h). The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued warnings as the hurricane approaches the southern coast of the Caribbean Island, predicting "life-threatening winds and storm surge" in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
At least seven people have been killed as Beryl sweeps through the Caribbean. Three fatalities were reported in Grenada, where the storm first made landfall on Monday, one in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and another three in northern Venezuela, which has experienced strong winds and flooding. About 90% of homes on Union Island, part of St Vincent and the Grenadines, were destroyed or severely damaged.
In Jamaica, a hurricane warning is in effect, and authorities have imposed a curfew from 06:00 to 18:00 local time (11:00-23:00 GMT). Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged residents to take the hurricane seriously. "If you live in a low-lying area, an area historically prone to flooding and landslide, or if you live on the banks of a river or a gully, I implore you to evacuate to a shelter or to safer ground", he said.
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) reported disruptions to power and electricity supplies and had to pause restoration efforts in some locations for worker safety. The NHC's director, Dr. Michael Brennan, warned of "devastating hurricane force winds", with rainfall in some parts of the country potentially reaching 12 inches (30 cm), leading to flooding and mudslides. Life-threatening storm surges as high as 9 feet (2.7 meters) above tide level are also expected.
In Venezuela, heavy rains from Hurricane Beryl caused a river to overflow in the northern state of Sucre, resulting in three deaths and several missing persons. A government delegation inspecting the damage was hit by a falling tree, injuring Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, who is reported to be "very bruised but conscious".
As Beryl moves towards Mexico, residents in Cancún are stocking up on supplies, encountering empty shelves in supermarkets. The NHC noted that Hurricane Beryl is the earliest Category 5 storm recorded in the Atlantic, forming much earlier in the hurricane season than usual. Meteorologists have remarked on how quickly Beryl developed, strengthening from a tropical depression into a major hurricane in just 42 hours.
In Texas, officials are warning residents to prepare for Beryl's possible arrival this weekend. Governor Greg Abbott advised those near the state's Atlantic coast to "keep an eye on the gulf" and "have an emergency plan to take care of yourself and your loved ones".
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned that the North Atlantic could see up to seven major hurricanes this year, an increase from the average of three in a season.
