Barbados "Beryl" off Mexico: highest warning level in vacation resorts
The dangerous hurricane "Beryl" is close to Mexico. With sustained wind speeds of up to 175 kilometers per hour, the Atlantic hurricane is only a few hundred kilometers away from the Yucatán Peninsula in the east of the country. According to official figures, more than 340,000 holidaymakers are staying in the region with the popular beach resorts of Cancún and Tulum. The highest warning level is in place for the areas most at risk, according to the local authorities.
05.07.2024, 07:00
SDA
The center of the storm is forecast to hit the coast near Tulum on Friday night (local time). The governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, called on the population and tourists to get to safety. The US hurricane center NHC warns of destructive winds, dangerous storm surges and high waves.
Ten people already killed by "Beryl" in the Caribbean
The first hurricane to form over the Atlantic this season has devastated several smaller islands in the south-east of the Caribbean since the beginning of the week. From Thursday night, it also caused major damage on Jamaica and then passed close to the Cayman Islands. At least ten people lost their lives - three each in Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela, as well as one person in Jamaica.
The hurricane is the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded in July. It temporarily reached the highest category 5, but has since weakened to a force 2. According to experts, climate change is increasing the likelihood of strong storms.
Flights are canceled and schools are closed
Around 100 flights were canceled ahead of the expected arrival of the hurricane on the Yucatán peninsula. The international airport in Tulum as well as schools and archaeological sites remain closed. Many tourists wanted to stay in the region despite "Beryl", said the governor. Emergency accommodation was available. The larger hotels set up their own safety zones for their visitors.
After arriving on the east coast of the peninsula, the storm is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm and move westwards over land towards the sea in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the NHC, "Beryl" is expected to move again as a hurricane towards the north-east of Mexico and the south of the US state of Texas at the weekend.
Hurricanes lose their strength over land
A hurricane is defined as having sustained wind speeds of 119 kilometers per hour or more. A category 3 hurricane is considered a severe hurricane. A hurricane of the highest category 5, with wind speeds of more than 252 kilometers per hour, threatens devastating damage. In the case of "Beryl", sustained wind speeds of up to 270 kilometers per hour were measured in the meantime.
Hurricanes often gain strength over the sea. Over land, they quickly lose their strength due to a lack of supply of warm, humid air masses. The hurricane season in the Atlantic begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.
