Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of at least 157 miles per hour, caused at least two deaths in the southeast Caribbean as it made its way toward Jamaica. The storm flattened islands in Grenada and St. Vincent, with significant damage reported in St. George’s and the Grenadines. Beryl is the first Atlantic hurricane of the season and an anomaly for the time it took to strengthen to a major hurricane and for developing into a Category 4 storm in June. Officials in Barbados confirmed that the island was spared the worst of Beryl, with some damage to homes and possible sunken boats. People across the eastern Caribbean prepared for the storm over the weekend, facing power outages and evacuations. The rapid escalation of Beryl was attributed to above-average sea surface temperatures. No Atlantic storm has ever reached Category 5 strength this early in the season. Despite the devastation caused by Beryl, officials and residents were grateful that the impact was not as severe as feared. As the storm continues to progress, the damage assessment is ongoing, and preparations for response and recovery efforts are in place across the region.
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