Hurricane Beryl: Aerial images show before and after of storm’s destruction

Hurricane Beryl ripped by way of the Caribbean and devastated communities in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines Monday – with stunning aerial photographs exhibiting the widespread injury.

The storm, which broke information because the earliest recorded Class 4 and Class 5 hurricane, is barreling in direction of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Wednesday. From there, it’s anticipated to hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday, earlier than impacting the US over the weekend.

Life-threatening winds and rain have already knocked out energy to areas of Jamaica. There are greater than 900 shelters throughout the island and an evacuation course of for these in flood-prone and low-lying areas, Data Minister Dana Morris Dixon stated as Beryl approached the island.

That was after the storm moved throughout islands additional east, flatting total cities and leaving a minimum of seven lifeless.

“Virtually complete injury or destruction of all buildings, whether or not they be public buildings, houses or different personal amenities,” Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell stated, in keeping with CBS Information. “Full devastation and destruction of agriculture. Full and complete destruction of the pure setting. There may be actually no vegetation left wherever on the island of Carriacou.”

Meteorologists say the storm will weaken on Wednesday however is anticipated to stay a serious hurricane.

Whereas the storm’s path over the weekend remains to be unsure, it has the potential to hit southern Texas and Louisiana in a single day Sunday into Monday, in keeping with the Nationwide Climate Service.

Earlier than and after: Hurricane Beryl devastates the jap Caribbean

Grenada’s Petite Martinique island, pictured in Could 2023 and on July 2, 2024, simply sooner or later after Hurricane Beryl swept by way of the jap Caribbean. Grenada suffered “unimaginable” destruction after the storm handed by way of, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell stated.

Officers have recognized a minimum of three folks in Grenada who had been killed by the hurricane, together with a relative of a authorities official who died in St George’s after a tree collapsed on them.

“This hits residence,” Mitchell stated. “The deceased individual is in reality the relative of one of many individuals who spent the final 36 hours with us right here on the Nationwide Emergency Working Heart.”

St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s Petit St Vincent island, pictured in Could 2023 and on July 2, 2024. No less than one individual died within the nation after Hurricane Beryl slammed into the jap Caribbean. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves stated there could also be extra fatalities reported within the coming days as an islandwide blackout impacts the nation.

“There are a couple of communities which don’t have water due to the system having been blocked,” Gonsalves stated.

“The faces of our women and men are strained and anxious,” he continued. “However tomorrow, we rise up with the conviction to rebuild our particular person lives and our household’s lives. To rebuild our nation, to get better.”

The hurricane’s complete dying toll is at seven as of Wednesday afternoon, with three deaths in Venezuela and 4 deaths in Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Grenada’s Carriacou Island pictured in Could 2023 and on July 2, 2024. The small island was “flattened” inside half an hour by Hurricane Beryl on Monday, in keeping with Mitchell.

The storm tore off 95 p.c of roofs on Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Carriacou Island additionally noticed an “nearly full destruction” of {the electrical} grid, in keeping with the prime minister.

“All the communication system is totally destroyed…many individuals have misplaced their total houses,” Mitchell stated.

Argyle, Carriacou, pictured in Could 2023 and on July 2, 2024. Mitchell described Carriacou as “armageddon-like” within the wake of Hurricane Beryl with scenes of “nearly complete destruction.”

“Full devastation and destruction of agriculture, full and complete destruction of the pure setting,” Mitchell stated. “There may be actually no vegetation left wherever on the island of Carriacou.”

United Nations officers in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are working intently with native leaders to assist with restoration efforts.

Secretary Common Antonio Guterres has requested for the worldwide neighborhood to “present solidarity” with all of the Caribbean nations in Hurricane Beryl’s path, a UN spokesperson stated.