On Wednesday, Hurricane Beryl swiftly passed by Jamaica, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain. This fierce Category 4 storm had already claimed six lives and caused extensive damage throughout the southeast Caribbean.

Nearly 500 people have found refuge in shelters.

“We are placing emphasis on ensuring they are comfortable and well looked after,” stated the prime minister after nearly 500 people have been placed in shelters.

“We are very concerned about a wide variety of life-threatening impacts in Jamaica, including storm surge, high winds, and flash flooding,” stated chief meteorologist John Porter.

A hurricane warning was implemented for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Beryl is expected to weaken over the next two days. However, it will still be at or close to major hurricane strength when it passes over Jamaica on Wednesday, close to the Cayman Islands on Thursday, and into Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.

As Beryl rumbled through the Caribbean Sea, several people were killed. Three people died in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Two other people were reportedly dead in northern Venezuela, and five people are missing.