Incredible before and after pictures show Hurricane Beryl’s destruction after Category 4 storm swept through Caribbean, tearing homes to shreds and leaving six people dead
Stunning before and after photos show the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl on the Caribbean islands as the powerful storm heads toward Jamaica.
Satellite images from DailyMail.com show large swaths of vegetation completely destroyed after the Category 4 storm swept across the southeastern Caribbean islands on Monday.
Entire neighborhoods were also destroyed and homes were left in ruins after Beryl tore through the area with sustained wind gusts of 150 mph (240 km/h).
Six people have died in the tundra and many more are missing as food and water become scarce on some islands.
Photos and videos have been taken across the region of downed power lines and flash flooding.
Incredible before and after photos show the damage Hurricane Beryl caused to the island of Carriacao on Monday
Entire neighborhoods were destroyed by the Category 4 storm
The storm is expected to weaken somewhat in intensity, but will still be a major storm when it moves near or over Jamaica early Wednesday morning.
Videos posted on social media from the island of Martinique show heavy flooding in the streets as locals try to clear the rubble.
In Barbados, videos also showed waves crashing against the coast, destroying walkways, felling palm trees and flooding roads in the capital.
Banana trees were also broken in half and some photos showed cows lying dead in green pastures, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
“The hurricane has come and gone, leaving behind enormous devastation,” said Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
He noted that nearly 90 percent of the homes on Union Island were destroyed and that “a similar level of destruction” was expected on Myreau and Canouan islands.
What once seemed lush green was destroyed by the powerful storm
The storm has already claimed six lives, though officials say more are expected
Meanwhile, in Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the situation on the islands as “serious” during a press conference on Tuesday.
“There is no power and the houses and buildings on the island are almost completely destroyed,” he said.
“The roads are impassable and often closed due to the large amount of debris strewn across the streets.”
The Grenadian island of Carriacou appeared to fare worse than the larger island. Kerryne James, the minister of climate resilience, environment and renewable energy, described how water, food and baby formula have become scarcer.
According to Kerryne James, Minister of Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy, three casualties have already been reported in Grenada and Carriacou. One person died from injuries sustained after a tree fell on his home.
More victims were reported in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two others in northern Venezuela, where five people were still missing on Tuesday.
But Mitchell warned on Tuesday: “The possibility of further deaths remains a grim reality as movement remains severely restricted.”
Across the Caribbean, photos and videos showed debris in streets and fallen trees
Damaged structures and trees are pictured after Hurricane Beryl passed through St. Vincent and the Grenadines
A fisherman throws a rope over boats damaged by Hurricane Beryl at Bridgetown Fisheries in Barbados
The storm is now heading towards Jamaica, where a hurricane warning remains in effect.
The storm is expected to weaken somewhat, but will still be a major storm if it moves near or over Jamaica early Wednesday morning.
Beryl will bring life-threatening winds and storm surges. Local authorities are warning residents in flood-prone areas to prepare to evacuate.
“I encourage all Jamaicans to treat the hurricane as a serious threat,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a speech on Monday.
Hundreds of evacuees have now arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with all seats filled on flights from Montego Bay and Kingston. This was reported by Local 10 News.
The influx has even forced some airlines to adjust their flight schedules to accommodate as many Jamaicans as possible.
Others saw their vacation plans derailed as cruise lines changed their itineraries to avoid the storm.
Carnival Cruise Line announced Tuesday that it is changing the sailing routes of two of its ships.
Carnival Horizon, originally scheduled to arrive in Grand Cayman on July 3, has canceled its visit and replaced its scheduled voyage to Cozumel, Mexico on July 4 with a visit to Nassau, Bahamas on July 5.
The Carnival Liberty also moved its scheduled stop in Cozumel from July 5 to Tuesday, as the cruise ship wanted to avoid Beryl.
“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. We continue to closely monitor weather forecasts and take into account guidance from the National Hurricane Center, the U.S. Coast Guard, and port authorities to update our guests as more information becomes available,” the cruise line said.
Norwegian Cruise Line also changed its itineraries for two cruises.
The Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Breakaway have cancelled their voyages to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Belize and Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, CNN reports.
Union Island evacuees arrive in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
A local Jamaican man steps into the back of a taxi filled with supplies such as water and perishables as people prepare for Hurricane Beryl in Kingston
Tuesday night, the eye of the storm was located about 360 miles (588 kilometers) east-southeast of Kingston. Hurricane-force winds extended out to 40 miles (64 kilometers), while tropical-storm-force winds extended out to 185 miles (298 kilometers) from the center.
“We are particularly concerned about Jamaica, where we expect the core of a major hurricane to pass near or over the island,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.
“You want to be in a safe place where you can ride out the storm until dark (Tuesday),” he warned.
“Be prepared to remain at that location through Wednesday.”
Beryl is expected to hit the Cayman Islands on Thursday and the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday
If the storm reaches the area, tidal waves could be up to 2.5 metres higher than normal, while the island will be hit hard by rainfall.
“This is a major threat in the Caribbean, especially because of the mountainous islands,” Brennan said.
“This could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides in some areas.”
Hurricane warnings are now in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac and the entire southern coast of Haiti.
Tropical storm warnings are also in effect for the entire southern coast of Hispaniola.
Beryl is expected to hit the Cayman Islands on Thursday and the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.