Hurricane Beryl, re-strengthening into a Category 3 storm with winds of 115 mph, is currently heading towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Having left at least nine fatalities and extensive destruction in the eastern Caribbean, Beryl is expected to make landfall near Tulum early on Friday.
The US National Hurricane Center's senior specialist, Jack Beven, highlighted Tulum as the immediate threat. Beryl caused significant damage in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Jamaica, affecting homes, infrastructure, and communication.
Mexico's civil defense, led by Laura Velazquez, has set up temporary shelters and urged evacuations in coastal communities. Following its anticipated landfall in Tulum, Beryl is projected to regain strength in the Gulf of Mexico, potentially impacting the Mexico-US border region near Matamoros.
In the Caribbean, countries are assessing damages and beginning recovery efforts, complicated by lingering power outages and communication breakdowns.