Hurricane Beryl Strikes Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula After Deadly Caribbean Rampage

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Written By Kanisha Laing

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Hurricane Beryl slammed into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula near Tulum early Friday, unleashing powerful winds and torrential rains following its devastating path that claimed at least 11 lives across the Caribbean.

Arriving as a Category 2 hurricane, Beryl weakened upon landfall, with forecasts suggesting further downgrade to a tropical storm before it reenters the Gulf of Mexico, where it could regain hurricane strength, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Before reaching Mexico, Beryl wreaked havoc in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados, becoming the earliest Atlantic storm to escalate to a Category 5 hurricane. Fatalities were reported in Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela, and Jamaica.

In Tulum, despite diminished winds upon landfall, the region faced continued threats from high waves and potential flooding, as warned by the hurricane center and Mexico’s National Water Commission. Widespread power outages and infrastructure damage prompted emergency responders and military personnel to clear debris and secure safety.

Local resident Lucía Nagera Balcaza described the ordeal: “We woke up grateful to find things relatively intact, though the streets are a mess. We’re cleaning up.”

While Mexican authorities had evacuated some residents and tourists from low-lying areas beforehand, many chose to stay despite the risks posed by strong winds and storm surges. Tulum, with its low-lying terrain, bore the brunt of the storm, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

As Mexico braces for potential further impacts with Beryl moving northwest toward the Texas border, Corpus Christi residents have swiftly taken precautionary measures, including the distribution of sandbags to mitigate potential flooding and coastal damage.

In the aftermath of Beryl’s rampage across the Caribbean and Mexico, affected regions are grappling with extensive aftermath, including ongoing power outages and infrastructure damage. Emergency response efforts continue as authorities assess the full scope of the storm’s impact and provide support to affected communities.

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