Hurricane Beryl, once an early Category 5 storm in the Atlantic, weakened to a Category 2 hurricane as it moved toward Mexico’s Caribbean coast, threatening Tulum with a potential direct hit early Friday. The storm, packing winds of 115 mph, prompted President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to advise people to seek shelter, warning that material possessions can be replaced. Tulum, a rapidly growing resort town, has about 50,000 residents and an equal number of tourists daily, many of whom were urged to evacuate.
Early Friday, Beryl’s center was approximately 40 miles east of Tulum, moving west-northwest at 15 mph. Authorities established shelters, evacuated small communities, and relocated sea turtle eggs threatened by the storm surge. In Tulum, beachside hotels were emptied and services shut down. Hotel Umi, for instance, locked down with a plan to remain closed until July 10. Hotel management cut gas and electricity, with two maintenance staff staying on-site.
Tourists took precautions, with some, like Lara Marsters from Idaho, storing water and preparing for power outages. The storm was expected to weaken over the Yucatan Peninsula but could regain hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico and threaten the Mexico-U.S. border near Matamoros next week, a region previously impacted by Tropical Storm Alberto in June.
Earlier, Beryl caused significant damage across the Caribbean, destroying 95% of homes in parts of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados, disrupting power in Jamaica, and leaving severe damage on Union Island. Reports indicated a death toll of seven, with additional casualties and missing persons in northern Venezuela. Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Tropical Depression Aletta was expected to dissipate without affecting land.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/04/hurricane-beryl-roars-toward-mexico.html
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