Hurricane “Beryl” swept through Jamaica on Wednesday, uprooting trees and roofs and destroying farms in areas across smaller Caribbean islands in recent days.

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The death toll from the powerful Category 4 hurricane has risen to at least 9 people, according to “Reuters”.

However, this number is expected to rise as communications are restored across the submerged islands that have been damaged by floods and stormy winds.

In Jamaica, the storm struck the southern coast of the island on Wednesday, subjecting residential areas to severe winds and heavy rains, while emergency teams evacuated people living in flood-prone areas.

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Prime Minister Andrew Holness told reporters that nearly 500 Jamaicans had fled to shelters by Wednesday afternoon and urged people in vulnerable areas to flee.

Holness added, “We have not seen the worst yet. We can do everything we can, within the limits of our capacity, and leave the rest in God’s hands.”

Airports in the capital “Kingston” and the famous tourist “Montego” Bay were closed all day Wednesday.

• Caribbean Islands Brace for “Dangerous” Hurricane Beryl

The loss of life and damage caused by “Beryl” highlights the consequences of the warming Atlantic Ocean, which scientists consider an indicator of climate change.

The wind strength is expected to weaken somewhat in the next day or two, according to the US National Hurricane Center, although it warned that Beryl will remain a major hurricane or near that strength as it sweeps through the Cayman Islands.

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The center warned in a post, “Life-threatening flooding and landslides are expected due to heavy rainfall across most of Jamaica and southern Haiti.”

It also added that dangerous winds and storms are expected in the Cayman Islands until early Thursday.