Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in grasps of Hurricane Beryl

Outer rain bands of Hurricane Beryl have already started to affect parts of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). The SVG Met office announced that the Beryl was located approximately at a latitude of 11.5 degrees north and a longitude of 58.1 degrees west.

It is predicted to be approximately 245 miles or 390 kilometres to the east-south and east of SVG. As the hurricane Beryl has already intensified to a category 4 hurricane.

Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of SVG has declared a National Emergency as the prevailing catastrophe will be associated with disasters throughout the region.

The Prime Minister declared the catastrophe an emergency under the National Emergency and Disaster Management Act on Sunday.

Evacuation in Chattam Bay

He also advised the residents of Chattam Bay on Union Island to evacuate the area and immediately move to another with a higher altitude. This advice also implies to the residents of the areas adjacent to the Bequia Airport.

The Hurricane Beryl has indeed intensified to a horrifying stage and is expected to run into the Islands at about 68-118 mph, accompanied by gusty winds of around 130 mph or 215 km/h, early Monday.

Beryl has already started affecting Bequia, largest Grenadine Island, with several bursts of stormy winds since the late midnight, surges in the sea body has also been reported.

The Prime Minister also addressed another situation at hand, another troubling weather disturbance has been located in the eastern part of the Atlantic that might have a 70 percent chance of developing into a storm by Wednesday, second storm of the season. He addressed the issue as the disturbance was traced near the coastal areas of SVG.

Gonsalves highlighted some of the areas vulnerable to the storm and are likely to be affected. The areas include the high peaks in Union Island, Canouan, Mayreau and Mustique Bequia. Addressing the communities inhabiting all the coastal areas, he urges them to stay safe and take required measures to overcome the mishap. He warned the citizens of the possibilities of several landslides in various regions of SVG.

The US National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Beryl is now a very dangerous Category 4 storm as it nears the Caribbean https://t.co/l0X3oKllpW pic.twitter.com/h0bJp7hv6n

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 30, 2024

Early Monday, July 1, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) has stated that 1032 people have already been shifted to 41 shelter camps. According to the National Hurricane Centre, the core risk factors for SVG and Grenada will be highest by early Monday morning.