Wind and Rain Intensify in Jamaica as Hurricane Burial Nears Landfall

Jamaicans are urgently preparing as Hurricane Burial, a powerful Category 4 storm, nears the island. The hurricane has already claimed at least six lives and caused significant damage in the Southeast Caribbean.

On Wednesday, many Jamaicans were seen taking precautions, with some even stockpiling food in anticipation of the storm’s arrival. "I have no control over what’s coming, so I just have to pray that all the people of Jamaica stay safe and that we don’t suffer any deaths or losses," one resident said.

Hurricane Burial is forecasted to weaken slightly over the next day or two, but it is expected to remain at or near major hurricane strength as it passes close to or over Jamaica on Wednesday.

The storm has already heavily impacted the Grenadines of St. Vincent, particularly Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island, as well as the Grenadines of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique.

In response, Jamaica has been placed under a state of emergency, and the island was declared a disaster zone hours before the anticipated impact of Hurricane Burial.

Emergency services are on high alert, and the government has urged residents to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety during the storm.

As the wind and rain begin to pick up, the people of Jamaica brace themselves for what could be one of the most challenging weather events they have faced in recent years. The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as the hurricane progresses.

As Hurricane Barrel, a deadly Category 4 storm with winds reaching up to 140 mph, bears down on Jamaica, the island is urgently preparing for the worst. The latest track shows this powerful system marching across the Caribbean, with potential impacts on the Texas coast as a Category 1 storm.

Officials in Jamaica have declared a state of emergency just hours before the expected impact of Hurricane Barrel. The storm has already been blamed for several deaths and is now targeting the Cayman Islands. ABC's Faith Abubey reports from Jamaica, where the situation is rapidly deteriorating.

On the Ground in Jamaica

Hurricane Barrel is pounding Jamaica with life-threatening storm surges. As the most powerful storm to hit the island in over 15 years, it has already knocked out power and flooded roads in Montego Bay. The winds are intensifying, and the waves are becoming more treacherous as the storm barrels towards the island.

Many Americans are stranded, riding out the storm in hotels and vacation rentals. Christopher and Michelle White, hunkered down with their kids and parents in a hotel ballroom, share their experiences. "The staff is still serving us even though their country is about to be devastated. They're worried about us, but we're still a little scared," said Christopher White.

Widespread Destruction Across the Caribbean

Hurricane Barrel has claimed at least seven lives as it sweeps across the Caribbean. The island of Carriacou in Grenada was flattened in just half an hour, with before and after satellite images revealing the scale of the destruction. "Roofs were flying past you. It was a terrifying experience," one resident recounted.

For the first time, we are seeing the destruction up close on Union Island, where 90% of the homes were leveled. Aid workers are racing to bring in food and supplies. "There's lots of destruction, no electricity, power, or water," reports an aid worker.

In Venezuela, heavy rains from Barrel turned roads into rivers of mud, resulting in the deaths of three people.

Continuing Impact

The impact of Hurricane Barrel is still being felt, with winds intensifying and rain pouring down over the last several hours. A transformer blew just down the hill from our reporting site. Forecasters predict the outer bands of the hurricane will continue lashing the island into the evening hours. Officials will have to wait until conditions improve to assess the full extent of the damage.

Looking Ahead

Meteorologist Britney Bell from New York's WABC warns that Hurricane Barrel could also threaten the U.S. Gulf Coast. "It could impact South Texas late Sunday into early Monday, potentially as a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane. Right now, it is slamming Jamaica with maximum sustained winds around 140 mph," says Bell. The eye of the hurricane, the most dangerous part, is riding right along the coast.

As the storm approaches the Cayman Islands late tonight and the Yucatan Peninsula by Friday morning, it is expected to push into the southern Gulf of Mexico by the weekend, with potential reintensification.