Hurricane Beryl makes landfall on Grenada's Carriacou Island

By Kimone Witter/Nakinskie Robinson     

 

Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Grenada's Carriacou Island on Monday morning.

 

The National Hurricane Centre says the Category 4 storm is delivering catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island, and Grenada.

 

Residents have been warned not to leave their shelters as winds will rapidly increase.

 

Beryl, packing 150-miles per hour winds is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane as its core slams through the eastern Caribbean.

 

Some weakening is expected in the central Caribbean by midweek, but Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane. 

 

Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says Beryl has caused extensive damage on Carriacou and Petite Martinique, with widespread reports of destruction and devastation. 

 

"We expect that we will still have very strong winds, storm surges and more rainfall for the next three to four hours, and  so we have no choice but to continue to pray, to continue to hunker down and to be safe. We do not have as yet any report of any loss of lives or injuries to persons but that may change quickly, as you'd appreciate in half an hour Carriacou was flattened. And so you have to appreciate the ferocity and the strength of the hurricane," he said. 

 

He noted that the country is "not yet out of the woods", adding that communication has become more challenged. But he promised further updates as soon as there is more reliable and accurate information.

 

The National Disaster Management Agency says mainland Grenada has also sustained significant damage due to Beryl.

 

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency is preparing to deploy teams to assist relief efforts.  

 

 

There are also reports of damage to roofs and people in shelters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

 

Dionne John of NBC Radio reported that sections of the Grenadines started experiencing the intensity of Hurricane Beryl sometime after 8 o'clock Monday morning.

 

Ms. John said the effects are expected to continue into Monday afternoon. 

 

"The seas the raging, very high clouds, the winds have intensified and I noticed that on mainland St. Vincent, in capital Kingstown where we actually are, the winds have intensified significantly, howling to be exact and on the east coast the seas are also raging. We are seeing and hearing reports of some houses having lost their roofs. I can't speak to how extensive is that damage in terms of giving your account in relation to that, but videos are circulating as it relates to that."

 

She said more than 1,000 people were in 59 shelters across the country at the last check.