A devastating Category 4 hurricane named Beryl made landfall in the eastern Caribbean Islands on Monday, causing widespread destruction. Carriacou, a small island north of Grenada, was reported to have been “flattened” in just half an hour, with one reported death in Grenada’s capital. The storm brought winds of over 150 miles per hour, snapping trees, creating extensive storm surge, and blowing roofs off buildings. Communication and power were knocked out on Carriacou and Petite Martinique, making assessment of the damage difficult. Prime Minister Mitchell indicated that they would transition into damage assessment and recovery mode as soon as possible. The rapid strengthening of Beryl, reaching major hurricane status within 42 hours, was attributed to above-average sea surface temperatures, making it a rare anomaly in Atlantic hurricane history. Barbados reported some damage, including sunken fishing boats and damaged homes, but was ultimately spared the worst of the storm. Residents across the region had been preparing for the hurricane over the weekend, with memories of past devastating storms influencing their preparations. Beryl was expected to continue its path through the Caribbean, potentially impacting Jamaica with hurricane conditions by Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center was closely monitoring the storm’s progress.
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