Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica, heads towards Mexico and Texas

Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica, heads towards Mexico and Texas

SmartTraveller has described Jamaica as a “disaster zone” after the island was battered by category 4 Hurricane Beryl.

Beryl’s centre passed just 72km off the coast of Kingston as a category 4 hurricane on Wednesday evening with winds of 225km/h.

Emergency groups evacuated flood-prone areas after the eyewall of the storm skirted over Jamaica’s southern coast.

More than 1,000 people were forced into government-designated shelters, airports were forced to shut, roofs were ripped off and there was widespread flooding on the island following the storm.

Government website SmartTraveller said local authorities had declared the island a disaster area and that a curfew was put in place from 6am to 6pm local time on July 3.

Aussies were told to exercise a “high degree of caution” if visiting the island, however, this was mainly due to the threat of violent crime.

Beryl is the first storm to pass so close to Jamaica since 2007.

Ahead of the storm, thousands of tourists were seen on news reports attempting to scramble off of the island. All three of the nation’s main airports – Sangster International Airport, Norman Manley International Airport and Ian Fleming International Airport – shut during the storm but have since reopened after the air space was declared safe.

The official Jamaican tourism website said that whilst “we look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful shores we recommend that you check with your air carrier and accommodation, along with your travel advisor and/or tour operator if relevant, before you leave home.”

The death toll from Hurricane Beryl is now considered to be at least 10 across the Caribbean region.

Beryl has since weakened to a category 3 storm and is now heading towards the Cayman Islands and Southern Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Centre. Beryl is expected to reach Cancún by Friday before heading to Texas next week.

Lead Image: NBC News Youtube

 

Latest News

  • Aviation

Delta marks 15 years of travel to Australia on US Independence Day

This July marks 15 years since Delta Air Lines began flying between Sydney and Los Angeles. To mark the occasion, Delta Air Lines had a small activation at their check in counter at Sydney Airport on Thursday July 4 – Independence Day in the US. Passengers were greeted with red, white and blue balloons as […]

  • Events
  • Health & Wellness

Boxing camp with world champion boxers at COMO Uma Canggu

COMO Uma Canggu has invited boxing enthusiasts to an intensive six-day boxing camp, led by world champion boxers Darren Barker and Ryan Pickard, this October. Participants will master the fundamentals of boxing, improve their self-defence skills, and transform their fitness regimen. Under the expert guidance of world-class boxers, attendees will undergo a variety of workouts […]

  • Cruise

Travelmarvel unveils its Europe Coastal Cruising 2025 lineup

Travelmarvel has revealed its 2025 Europe Coastal Cruising program and introduces 13 itineraries that include two extended combination journeys. The MS Caledonian Sky also makes its grand return the APT family. Renowned for its intimate cruising experience, the vessel accommodates an average of 100 passengers with a crew of 70. It features one of the highest […]

  • Tour Operators

Anderson’s Tours named top experience in Australia

Anderson’s Tours has, for the second time, achieved the top spot as the No. 1 Experience in Australia at TripAdvisors Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2024. The family-owned and operated touring company takes pride in showcasing the breathtaking landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Blue Mountains and provide guests with professional, local tour […]

  • Destinations

Queenstown welcomes fresh snow dump for school holidays

The spectacular mountains of Queenstown, New Zealand, have been blanketed by snow – as much as 50cm in 48 hours – providing the perfect winter vacation for the entire family. All four of the region’s ski areas are now open with The Remarkables having recorded 70cm of snow already this season while Cardrona Alpine Resort […]

  • Hotels

Sheraton Samoe Aggie Grey’s Hotel and Bungalows’ soft reopening

The Sheraton Hotels & Resorts iconic grand jewel on Apia Harbour, Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows reopen following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment. The property will reopen in a phased manner with 56 of its 175 rooms, suites and bungalows now available for bookings. The grand opening of the hotel is expected to be in […]

  • Technology

Commonwealth Bank offers new Travel Booking service via its app

Commonwealth Bank is offering a new Travel Booking service via its CommBank app, which allows more than 6 million eligible customers to search, book and pay for flights and hotels from hundreds of airlines and hundreds of thousands of hotels. The new CommBank digital experience is powered by global online travel agency Hopper, already used […]

  • Aviation

Lufthansa Group gets green light to take major stake in ITA Airways

The European Commission has approved Lufthansa Group’s proposition to take a 41 per cent stake in ITA Airways following an investigation by EU antitrust regulators. The deal which was first announced in May last year will see Lufthansa pay 325 million Euro to take the remaining shares in 2025. Both Lufthansa and ITA have previously […]

  • Aviation

Vietjet’s two new routes to South Korea and China

Vietjet has announced the commencement of two new routes, expanding its network in both South Korea and China. The new routes include Nha Trang-Daegu in South Korea and Ho Chi Minh City-Xi’an in China. The new route connecting Vietnam’s coastal city of Nha Trang with Daegu, a major city located in southeastern South Korea, is […]

  • Destinations

Istanbul in a heartbeat

Istanbul offers an unparalleled blend of history, culture, and... Chaos.

  • Hotels

Angsana to launch first island resort in Vietnam’s Bai Tu Long Bay

Banyan Group’s subsidiary Angsana has announced the opening of Angsana Quan Lan, a 156-room and suite luxury offering with stunning views of the Gulf of Tonkin. Guests can enjoy dining at three distinct venues and unwind at Angsana Spa, as well as the brand’s signature ‘101 Things To Do’ that celebrate Vietnam’s coastal charm. The […]

  • Cruise

Hurtigruten’s SeaZero wins prestigious award

Hurtigruten’s SeaZero project has won the award for Best Concept Ship Design at the prestigious Electric & Hybrid Marine Awards 2024 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. The first rendering of the project was released a year ago with a goal to create the world’s most energy-efficient ship. Announced in 2021, the project is currently […]