Hurricane Beryl is intensifying as it moves towards Jamaica after devastating parts of the southeast Caribbean. As a powerful Category 4 storm, Beryl has already claimed at least six lives and is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surges to Jamaica.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Despite losing some intensity, Beryl is forecasted to remain near major-hurricane strength when it reaches Jamaica early Wednesday, the Cayman Islands on Thursday, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday. The National Hurricane Center has also issued a hurricane watch for Haiti’s southern coast and the Yucatan’s east coast, while Belize has a tropical storm watch from its border with Mexico to Belize City.

Beryl became the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic on Monday, peaking at winds of 165 mph before weakening slightly to a Category 4.

The storm hit Jamaica on Wednesday afternoon with its strongest winds along the southern part of the island. It is expected to intensify its strike on the Cayman Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula before moving towards the Gulf of Mexico. Eastern Mexico and Texas are likely to experience impacts as Beryl progresses.

Beryl is expected to cause a storm surge of 5-8 feet above typical tide levels in Jamaica, along with heavy rainfall that could lead to life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas. A tropical storm warning is also in place for the southern coast of Hispaniola.

As Beryl moved through the Caribbean Sea, rescue crews assessed the damage in southeastern islands. Three fatalities were reported in Grenada and Carriacou, another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two in northern Venezuela, where five people remain missing. Approximately 25,000 people in Venezuela were also affected by heavy rainfall.

In Grenada, Environment Minister Kerryne James reported significant damage in Carriacou and Petit Martinique, with many homes and businesses flattened. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the situation as grim, with widespread destruction, impassable roads, and ongoing search and rescue efforts.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves promised to rebuild the affected areas, noting that 90% of homes on Union Island were destroyed, with similar devastation expected on Myreau and Canouan islands.

The last major hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which caused significant loss of life and damage. Grenadian resident Roy O’Neale, who lost his home to Ivan, described the terrifying experience of Beryl, although his rebuilt home sustained minimal damage this time.

Hundreds of people sought refuge in shelters across the southeast Caribbean, including a school in Grenada where 50 adults and 20 children huddled together. Urban Mason, a retired teacher managing the shelter, noted that many residents underestimated the severity of the storm until it was too late.

The storm also damaged the home of U.N. Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell’s parents in Carriacou and destroyed his late grandmother’s home. In a statement, Stiell highlighted the accelerating impact of the climate crisis, citing Beryl as an example of increasing natural disasters.

Grenada, known as the “spice isle,” suffered significant damage to its northern nutmeg-growing region, which was hardest hit by Beryl. Prime Minister Mitchell emphasized the impact on the island’s crucial spice export industry.