On a flooded road in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, a wall mural depicts rain clouds containing three words: “Grace,” “Mercy” and “Forgiveness.”
In recent days, Hurricane Beryl has shown little of anything, leaving entire islands in ruins and killing several people.
jamaicans had watched devastating winds and storm surges ravage the eastern Caribbean and we prepare for the worst.
In the end, it dealt more of an indirect blow than a direct blow, but those who experienced this hurricane I won’t forget it soon.
“I was scared,” says Peter Williams, a fisherman. “We all were. It was terrible, there were buildings collapsing. I’ve seen storms like this in September, but never in July.”
Fisherman Peter Williams
Hurricane Beryl is the most powerful storm to ever make landfall this early in the season. It intensified at a dizzying pace, transforming from a tropical depression to a category five hurricane in just three days.
“The wind was strong,” says Kirk White of Spanish Town. “Really wicked. I saw roofs being ripped off houses and trees thrown onto the road. I’m worried because this storm happened so early and got so big in such a short time.”
The worst affected areas were along the island’s southern coast, where a storm surge flooded homes and left roads impassable.
‘Grace, mercy and forgiveness’ is a popular mantra on the island
The first confirmed death in Jamaica from the storm was a woman who died in the western parish of Hanover when a tree fell on her home.
In Portmore, a coastal community near the capital, boats were swept away to sea, roofs ripped off and debris strewn across the road.
But Angela Wilson was grateful that everyone she knew had emerged relatively unscathed.
Cleaning and repair work has begun.
“We are all alive. No one was hurt and that is the greatest thing, and for that we thank the almighty,” he said.
Much of the island was without power overnight and gas stations remain closed.
At Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, part of the roof of the main terminal was blown off by the wind.
At least three people died
Climate scientists believe sea temperatures two to three degrees higher than normal are to blame for the increase in the intensification of deadly storms.
Sheldon Mackinson, a Hellshire Beach fisherman, sheltered from the rain in a tin-roofed building with a sleeping bag on a cement floor so he could stay close to his boat.
He believes climate change is contributing to the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl.
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Why was Beryl so intense and so early?
He said: “I don’t think it’s nature. I think it’s the bigger guys playing with the balloon because we never have a storm this month. I think there are some problems with the weather.”
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