Airports shut as Caribbean residents urged to shelter – Repeating Islands

Vanessa Buschschlüter (BBC News) reminds us that a hurricane warning is in effect here, in the
Caribbean, posing threats to Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tobago.

Airports and businesses have shut down and residents across the Caribbean have been urged to seek shelter as a potentially devastating storm hits the region.

Hurricane Beryl, which has regained strength in the past hours, has sparked warnings of life-threatening winds and dangerous storm surges. A hurricane warning is in effect in Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tobago.

Dozens of flights were cancelled across the region as Beryl approached on Sunday night, while leaders urged the public to heed warnings.

“It is not a joke,” said the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, reminding people of the devastation caused by past hurricanes in the Caribbean. In a national address from his official residence, Mr Gonsalves said he was seeking shelter in his basement. “The roof, certainly the old part of the roof, may not survive winds at 150mph (241 km/h). I am making preparations to go downstairs,” he said.

Beryl’s strength has been fluctuating.

The hurricane was upgraded to a category four on Monday after slightly weakening earlier.

The NHC said fluctuations in strength were likely to continue but warned that portions of the Windward islands should prepare for “potentially catastrophic wind damage”. It said St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Grenada were at the highest risk of damage.

Hurricane shelters opened at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Sunday.

For original article, see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn09xznv4jno