Officials in Barbados reported Monday that the island had been spared the worst effects of Beryl.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley told a national broadcast from the island’s emergency operations center that as many as 20 fishing boats, including two popular cruise ships, may have sunk. However, she added: “This could have been much worse for us.”
According to her, about 40 houses have suffered roof or structural damage so far, and this number is expected to rise as more than 400 residents have returned home from shelters.
In St. Lucia, the storm surge caused significant damage to fishing vessels, with at least 20 boats sinking, according to initial reports. Dozens of homes were also damaged.
People in the eastern Caribbean had already begun preparing for the storm over the weekend, including doing some last-minute shopping.
“Hurricanes are not something we take lightly as a family,” said Fleur Mathurin, who lives in St. Lucia, where parts of the island experienced power outages. “My family, my grandmothers and great-grandchildren, have been through Hurricane Allen and Gilbert, so this is something they always tell us.”
The storm was expected to move across the Caribbean on Monday afternoon and reach Jamaica on Wednesday, possibly reaching hurricane conditions, the National Hurricane Center said.
Julius Gittens reported from Christ Church, Barbados; Linda Straker from Gouyave, Grenada; Kenton X. Chance from Kingstown, St. Vincent; Sharefil Gaillard from Gros Islet, St. Lucia; and Maria Abi-Habib from Mexico City.
