Hurricane Beryl has intensified into a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h as it approaches Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Mexican Meteorological Service (SMN) report that Beryl is expected to make landfall near Tulum, Quintana Roo, between Thursday night and Friday morning.In response to the strengthening hurricane, Mexican authorities have taken extensive precautions. The governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, has declared a red alert for several municipalities, including Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Cozumel, Tulum, Solidaridad, and José María Morelos. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has urged residents to evacuate to higher ground, shelters, or homes of family and friends in safer locations.The Mexican government has deployed 8,000 troops to the affected areas and stockpiled food and 34,000 liters of purified water. Authorities have also suspended classes, evacuated tourists from coastal areas, and canceled flights. The Cancun International Airport has suspended operations, with over 100 national and international flights canceled.Beryl is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and a storm surge of 4-6 meters along the coast. The hurricane warning covers a large area of the Yucatan coast, including Chetumal, Cozumel, and Cancun.The storm has already caused significant damage in the Caribbean, with at least nine deaths reported. After making landfall in Mexico, Beryl is forecast to cross the Yucatan Peninsula and potentially regain strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico before making a second landfall near the Texas-Mexico border.As the hurricane approaches, authorities continue to emphasize the importance of following safety instructions and prioritizing human life over material possessions.
Key points
- Hurricane Beryl has intensified to a Category 3 storm with winds of 185 km/h, approaching Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
- Mexican authorities have declared red alerts, evacuated tourists, and deployed military personnel in preparation for the hurricane.
- The storm is expected to make landfall near Tulum between Thursday night and Friday morning, bringing heavy rainfall and a 4-6 meter storm surge.
- At least nine deaths have been reported in the Caribbean due to the hurricane.
Contradictions👾There is a discrepancy in the reported number of military personnel deployed, with some sources citing 8,000 troops and others mentioning 13,372.
👾While most sources agree that Beryl will make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, one source suggests it may weaken to a Category 1 before landfall.
