In a devastating turn of events, Hurricane Beryl has caused multiple fatalities and significant damage across several Caribbean islands. Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are among the hardest-hit regions, with three lives lost in Grenada and one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The prime minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, expressed the dire situation on Carriacou Island, where two people tragically lost their lives. Another fatality occurred when a tree fell on a home on River Road. Mitchell noted that the island nation is currently grappling with downed power lines and impassable roads due to extensive debris.

With Beryl moving westward across the Caribbean at a rapid pace of 22 mph, forecasters predict its path will take it near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that while Beryl may weaken later on, it is expected to maintain major hurricane intensity as it passes through the central Caribbean.

Jamaica remains under a hurricane warning, anticipating heavy rainfall and potential flooding on Wednesday. The storm surge in Jamaica could reach alarming levels, surging 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels. Additionally, up to 12 inches of rain is expected in Jamaica and the southwestern Haitian peninsula.

The Cayman Islands are also bracing for impact, with storm surge predicted to raise water levels 2 to 4 feet above normal. The National Weather Service field office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has even warned of potential minor coastal flooding in southeast Texas or southwest Louisiana if Beryl deviates further north.

As the earliest category 4 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl has broken several records. It is the first hurricane of such intensity to appear in June, and the strongest hurricane to pass through the Windward Islands, including Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Martinique.

Preparations for the impending disaster are underway, with leaders urging residents to take the situation seriously and be mentally prepared. The large swathe of the Caribbean affected by Beryl must be prepared for significant impact and damage in the coming days.

The international community stands ready to assist affected nations as they face the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, while the Caribbean islands brace themselves for the potential further destruction and loss caused by this powerful storm.