Hurricane Beryl leaves seven dead in Grenada and heads towards Jamaica and Cancun

The powerful Hurricane Beryl has caused extensive damage in Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and northern Venezuela, killing at least seven people. Many others are currently missing.

So far, officials in Grenada have reported that at least 98 percent of buildings on the island have been damaged or completely destroyed, affecting more than 6,000 residents.

The destruction is “unimaginable”, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell lamented.

“We will have to rebuild from the ground up” Mitchell told reporters after witnessing the destruction in Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Wednesday (today) Beryl will come close or pass by Jamaica as a ‘major hurricane’, category 4. Local authorities imposed a curfew and issued a disaster warning for flood-prone areas. The evacuation must begin immediately.

‘I encourage all Jamaicans to view the hurricane as a serious threat’ Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on Tuesday.

“You want to be in a safe place where you can weather the storm by nightfall (Tuesday). Be prepared to remain at that location through Wednesday,” he noted.

On Thursdaywhere the hurricane will rush the Cayman Islands and in Cancun and the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula on FridayThis is evident from observations by the National Hurricane Center.

Cruise lines have also been affected.

Carnival Cruise Line had to change the itineraries of Carnival Horizon and Carnival Liberty, which were scheduled to call at the Cayman Islands port and Cozumel, Mexico, this week.

Norwegian Cruise Line also had to divert their ships Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Breakaway, which were scheduled to dock in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Belize and Mexico.

Several US embassies have issued hurricane warnings for Caribbean countries

Embassy ALERT of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands – July 2

The US government did that issued a warning for Americans living or vacationing in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Beryl has reached Category 5 and is expected to hit Jamaica on Wednesday with maximum sustained “hazardous” winds of 160 miles per hour.

Massive flooding, landslides, rainfall, power outages and airport and road closures are expected for the rest of the day.

U.S. citizens who are near the coast should seek shelter immediately and avoid coming to the U.S. embassy or consular agency for protection.

ALERT from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic – July 2

The southern part of the Dominican Republic is expected to be hit by Hurricane Beryl today, Wednesday.

Affected areas may include “the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, from Punta Palenque (west of Santo Domingo, east of Baní) west to the border with Haiti.” The provinces of Pedernales and Barahona were also placed on red alert.

In general, avoid walking, swimming or driving through floodwaters. If your vehicle gets stuck in a flood, take refuge on the roof. Call 911 if you need help.

Other general recommendations include learning about hurricane-proof shelters in your area and following the latest news from the National Hurricane Center at www.nhc.noaa.gov.