News Desk
According to the US national Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Beryl has caused a landfall on Carriacou Island in Grenada. The hurricane has erupted warnings of deadly winds and dangerous storm surges, as it has regained strength in the past few hours.
Prime minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, has said that Carriacou was flattened in an hour. Further hurricane warnings have also been issued in Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
As the potentially life-threatening storm hit the Caribbean regions, airports and businesses were forced to shut down and residents across the region were ordered to seek shelter. Many flights have also been cancelled across the region due to the Beryl approaching the area on Sunday night, and local authorities have instructed the public to heed warnings, just as Grenada experiences several power outages.
The NHC’s latest update report that the maximum sustained winds for the hurricane reach around 150 mph (241 km/h), as it moves further towards the west. As hurricane watch is active in the region of Jamaica, so by Wednesday, they will likely be hit by hurricane conditions.
Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, reminded the public that this was not a joke and the resulting devastation. Now currently seeking shelter in his basement, he has reported that the roof won’t hold at the speed of the wind, so he will be preparing to move downstairs.
The strength of the Beryl remains versatile, moving up to category 4 after reportedly weakening. The NHC reports the fluctuations will continue, but warned the portions of Windward Islands to prepare for plausibly catastrophic wind damage.
As of now, Grenada, St Vincent, and the Grenadines are at the most risk of damage as hurricane shelters opened at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Sunday.