Hurricane Beryl, the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, has wreaked havoc across the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction and at least 10 dead as it barrels towards Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

Starting its crippling journey in the southeastern Caribbean, Beryl obliterated 95% of homes on the islands of Mayreau and Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Grenada and Carriacou saw similar levels of devastation, with Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell describing the scene as “Armageddon-like.” Approximately 98% of structures in Carriacou were damaged or destroyed, leaving the island almost entirely without electricity and communications.

The islands of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines reported three deaths each, while Venezuela counted three fatalities and four missing amidst severe floods.

As Beryl approached Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness issued urgent warnings and imposed a nationwide curfew. By July 3, in the afternoon, the storm had knocked out power and communications across the island, particularly in the southern regions. Nearly 1,000 Jamaicans sought refuge in shelters as the storm's eyewall grazed the southern coast, delivering maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 km/h).

Holness warned the nation that they had not seen the worst yet. "We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God," he said.

The storm also battered Jamaica’s agriculture, with significant damage reported to banana and plantain crops. The US-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warned of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, exacerbated by Jamaica’s mountainous terrain. The NHC also issued an alert for southern Haiti and the Cayman Islands, expected to be hit on July 4. 

Beryl, now weakened slightly to a Category 4 but still a major hurricane, is expected to make landfall in Mexico's sparsely populated region south of Tulum in the early hours of July 5 as a Category 2 storm. Mexican authorities have begun evacuations in coastal communities and moved sea turtle eggs from beaches threatened by the impending storm surge.

In popular tourist destinations like Playa del Carmen and Tulum, however, nightlife continued unabated despite the Navy's patrols and warnings. Tourists were urged to seek shelter as the storm approached.

Laura Velazquez, head of Mexico's civil protection agency, recommended visitors to stay in hotel basements once the hurricane hits, with additional hurricane warnings issued for the Yucatán Peninsula, including Cancun.

If Beryl maintains its current forecasted path, it will likely bypass the major refining and petrochemical hubs in both the United States and Mexico. Consequently, few, if any, energy companies are expected to shut down US oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico.

Major US oil and LNG ports are also expected to avoid the worst of the storm. According to the current forecast, the hurricane will make landfall between the Mexican petrochemical hub of Altamira, Tamaulipas, and the US hub of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) addressed the public on July 2, urging calm amid what he described as “sensationalism” regarding Beryl, which had reached Category 5 status on July 1, marking it as the most intense cyclone for this early in the Atlantic hurricane season.

“You will never be left helpless. However, do not get upset because there will be a lot of sensationalism and too much-exaggerated information about the hurricane,” AMLO said in a bid to reassure residents of the Mexican Caribbean.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Belize on July 3 issued a tropical storm watch extending from its border with Mexico down to Belize City.

Beryl’s unprecedented early development into a Category 5 hurricane has been attributed to unusually warm sea temperatures, a consequence of global heating. Scientists argue that human-driven climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of tropical storms.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a particularly active hurricane season this year, with a significant number of major hurricanes anticipated. As Beryl continues its destructive path, it is feared it may restrengthen over the Gulf of Mexico and potentially impact Mexico’s northeast coast near the Texas border.

In the wake of the storm, recovery and rebuilding efforts are expected to be long and arduous across the affected Caribbean islands. Prime Ministers Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dickon Mitchell of Grenada have both pledged comprehensive rebuilding initiatives, emphasising the resilience and determination of their nations in the face of such unprecedented devastation.

As Mexico braces for impact, the region remains on high alert, hoping to mitigate further loss of life and damage.