Hurricane Beryl regains strength as it heads towards Mexico, causing havoc in the Caribbean and prompting evacuations in Tulum. Mexican authorities are taking precautionary measures in anticipation of the storm’s impact.
Hurricane Beryl strengthened back into a Category 3 storm late Thursday as it approached Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, targeting the popular resort area of Tulum. Initially the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic for the season, Beryl weakened before regaining strength with winds of 115 mph.
Beryl has caused significant damage across the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in Jamaica, Barbados, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, and resulting in at least nine deaths. The storm is expected to make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday, with authorities urging tourists and residents to evacuate to higher ground. Military and local officials have set up shelters and carried out evacuations in vulnerable areas.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety over material possessions. The storm is expected to weaken as it crosses over the Yucatan Peninsula but could re-strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico and potentially impact northeastern Mexico and Texas.
In response to the approaching storm, Tulum has closed its international airport, and evacuations are in progress. Preparations include moving sea turtle eggs from storm surge areas and securing infrastructure. The storm continues to pose a significant threat with life-threatening winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous storm surges anticipated.
