Hurricane Beryl Hits Jamaica, Leaves Thousands Without Power

Following Hurricane Beryl’s arrival to Jamaica’s southern coast on Wednesday, residents are evaluating the damage. The Category 4 hurricane, one of the strongest to ever impact the nation, slammed Jamaica’s south coast with gusts as high as 130 mph (215 km/h). According to the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane has now downgraded to a Category 3 storm and is moving toward the southern Mexican Yucatan Peninsula.

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) stated that on Thursday morning, over 400,000 individuals were without electricity. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged residents to “take all necessary steps for your safety and the protection of your property”.

The hurricane warning was cancelled late on Wednesday by the Meteorological Service of Jamaica and a flash flood warning till 5 am on Thursday was issued instead. The department further issues a warning stating that prolonged rainstorms would “cause flash flooding over low-lying and flood-prone areas of the island.”

As Hurricane Beryl moved away from the Jamaican coast, PM Holness thanked “first responders, essential services, security forces and good Samaritans who have assisted others in this time of crisis”. “This storm will pass, and we will recover,” he added.