Hurricane Beryl gains strength to category 5, moves towards Jamaica

Hurricane Beryl is heading near Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane after wreaking havoc on many southeast Caribbean islands.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced Wednesday morning that Beryl is expected to travel quickly across the central Caribbean Sea, passing “near or over Jamaica later today.”

The NHC cautioned that hurricane conditions are likely to hit the Jamaican coast about midday, and that strong gusts beginning in the morning would make outdoor preparations difficult.

Preparations are underway for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Beryl.
Shelters are stocking up, homes are being safeguarded and boats have been pulled from the water.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said electricity and water services are likely to be shut off as a precaution – to prevent fires and damage to equipment.

He told residents, external to stock up on candles or batteries, saying people should be careful lighting fires – as it would be “very difficult” for firefighters to respond.

In the capital Kingston, cars queued at petrol stations as people filled containers with extra fuel.

At least seven people have been killed in Grenada, Venezuela and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Hurricane Beryl became the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic on Monday, before weakening to a still-destructive Category 4.

It peaked at winds of 270 Kilometres per hour.