Donna McNaughton : “Hurricane Beryl Threatens Mexico”

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Beryl caused widespread destruction in the Caribbean as it tore off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados, and left a trail of devastation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The storm, which has already claimed the lives of at least seven people, is now heading towards Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

Despite weakening slightly, Hurricane Beryl remains a major hurricane and is expected to pass just south of the Cayman Islands. Mexico’s popular Caribbean coast has been preparing for the storm by setting up shelters, evacuating coastal communities, and even relocating sea turtle eggs to safer areas. However, tourists in nightlife hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Tulum have been reluctant to cut short their vacations.

Mexico’s Navy has been patrolling areas like Tulum, warning tourists in both Spanish and English to prepare for the impending storm. As of early Thursday morning, the storm’s center was located approximately 500 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. Hurricane Beryl is moving west-northwest at 21 mph and is forecasted to make landfall in a sparsely populated area south of Tulum as a Category 2 storm.

The storm has already left a path of destruction across the southeastern Caribbean. In Jamaica, Hurricane Beryl knocked out power and caused extensive damage to homes, prompting Prime Minister Andrew Holness to urge caution. Several roadways in Jamaica’s interior settlements were affected by fallen trees and utility poles, while some northern communities were left without electricity.

In the small islands of the Lesser Antilles, particularly Mayreau and Union Island, about 95% of homes were damaged by the storm. Tragically, the storm claimed lives in Grenada, Carriacou, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has vowed to rebuild the affected areas.

As Hurricane Beryl continues on its path towards Mexico, residents and tourists alike are bracing for the impact. In Cancun, Donna McNaughton, a tourist from Scotland, remains calm despite the approaching storm. She plans to wait it out at her hotel, confident that the storm will eventually subside.

This article includes contributions from Associated Press journalists across the Caribbean region.