ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada — Hurricane Beryl is likely to “pass near or over” Jamaica by Wednesday afternoon, bringing harsh winds and towering storm surge, according to the National Hurricane Center. Beryl, still a Category 4 storm, was packing 145 mph winds early Monday, the agency said in an advisory. Its center lies about 250 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and is moving at 22 mph. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Jamaica on Wednesday morning, increasing to hurricane conditions by midday.  

Beryl has left a trail of destruction across the southeastern Caribbean as it heads toward Jamaica. Beryl, which peaked as the earliest Category 5 hurricane of the season, has already claimed at least six lives and caused widespread devastation.

Katrina Coy, a resident of Union Island off St. Vincent and the Grenadines, recounted the sheer devastation left in Beryl's wake. "Union Island is in a terrible state after Beryl passed. Literally, almost the whole island is homeless," she said in a video message. Coy described flattened houses, blocked roads, and downed electricity poles, emphasizing the near-total destruction of buildings on the island.

Sebastien Sailly, a fisherman and fishing guide, echoed Coy's sentiments. "Everything is lost. I have nowhere to live right now," he said. Having survived Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Sailly noted that Beryl was on another level, erasing 90% of the island. His cousin, Alizee, who runs a hotel, described the harrowing experience of sheltering from the storm, pushing furniture against doors and windows to withstand the intense winds and pressure.

The community's immediate priority is finding shelter, with residents gathering wood and plastic sheeting to create temporary accommodations. Alizee Sailly highlighted the urgent need for supplies such as tinned foods, powdered milk, sanitary products, first-aid kits, tents, and generators. With power and communications still down, she managed to send out messages using Elon Musk's Starlink network.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines addressed the nation, acknowledging the immense destruction and promising swift action. However, on Union Island, skepticism remains about the government's ability to cope with the disaster. "This is going to take billions, it will take a year or more, and is going to need international help," said Sebastien Sailly.

Beryl's Current Path and Intensity
As of early Wednesday, Hurricane Beryl was approximately 250 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with sustained winds of 145 mph and moving west-northwest at 22 mph. The National Hurricane Center warned that Beryl could bring life-threatening winds and storm surges to Jamaica, where a hurricane warning is in effect. Heavy rainfall is also expected, posing a significant risk of flash floods and mudslides.

In Miami, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan emphasized the danger to Jamaica, urging residents to seek safe shelter and prepare for the storm. "We are most concerned about Jamaica, where we are expecting the core of a major hurricane to pass near or over the island," he said.

As Beryl barrels through the Caribbean Sea, rescue crews in the southeastern islands are assessing the damage. Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell reported that Carriacou and Petit Martinique sustained the greatest damage, with scores of homes and businesses flattened. Three fatalities were reported in Grenada and Carriacou, with additional deaths in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and northern Venezuela.

The hurricane's impact on Grenada's spice industry, particularly nutmeg production in the northern part of the island, is significant. The climate crisis is exacerbating such disasters, noted U.N. Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, a native of Carriacou.

Despite the widespread destruction and ongoing challenges, residents like Sebastien Sailly find solace in the fact that they survived the storm. "The most important thing is that we are still alive, not the material losses," he said. As the region braces for Beryl's next impacts, the focus remains on recovery and rebuilding.