Jamaica faced the wrath of Hurricane Beryl as it brought destructive winds, flooding rains, and a surge of water to the island. The Category 4 storm passed just south of the coast, claiming at least one life on the island. The effects of the storm were felt shortly after it devastated the eastern Caribbean, resulting in the loss of at least seven lives.
In Grenada, the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique were left in ruins after Hurricane Beryl made landfall earlier in the week. The storm destroyed virtually every building, including hospitals and marinas. The aftermath left a trail of destruction with rooftops torn away and tree trunks snapped like matchsticks across the landscape. Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, emphasized the need to rebuild from the ground up.
Prior to the hurricane’s arrival, Jamaica took precautionary measures by closing airports and issuing evacuation orders for low-lying and flood-prone areas. The storm marked the strongest to approach the island in over a decade. The last major hurricane to pass within 70 miles of Jamaica was in 2007, and it had been even longer since one made landfall.
The first confirmed fatality in Jamaica due to the storm occurred when a woman tragically lost her life as a tree fell on her house in Hanover parish. Additionally, a rescue operation was underway to locate a 20-year-old man who was swept away in a gully in Kingston while attempting to retrieve a ball during the storm.
