Hurricane Beryl is expected to arrive in Jamaica in the next few hours after its devastating passage from the Caribbean, which hit the exotic islands with wind speeds exceeding 260 km per hour.

At least seven people have so far lost their lives from its devastating passage. The director of the US National Hurricane Center says the core of the “major hurricane” will pass near or over southern Jamaica bringing a “life-threatening” storm surge.

Jamaica’s prime minister urged residents to follow evacuation orders.

“We urge all Jamaicans to comply with evacuation notices if and when issued,” he says in a post on X. He adds that those living in low-lying areas, as well as those in areas historically prone to flooding and landslides or on the banks of a river or a gully’, should also be moved to shelter or safer areas, even if there is no evacuation order currently in place.

Typhon

As of Wednesday afternoon, the eye of the hurricane was located about 50 miles (80 km) south-southeast of Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.

Satellite images from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show strong winds have already hit the island’s southeast coast, and Montego Bay Airport has recorded wind gusts of 85km/h.

satellite image

NOAA

Blackouts

Power has been cut in some areas of Kingston, the capital of Jamaica – a move by authorities to protect the power grid ahead of the typhoon.

The road leading to the airport that serves the city, Norman Manley International – located on a peninsula – is blocked.

Hurricane Beryl became the first storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic on Monday, before weakening to a Category 4, making it just as destructive.

to an even more destructive category 4. It peaked with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h)