Beryl causes "apocalyptic" devastation
July 3, 2024
Hurricane Beryl caused apocalyptic devastation in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Category 5 storm is part of a trend of stronger storms scientists relate to climate change.
“For the major emitters of greenhouse gases, those who contribute most to global warning, you are getting a lot of talking, but you are not seeing a lot of action – as in making money available to small-island developing states and other vulnerable countries,” said SVG Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. (Guardian)
The impact was described as ““almost Armageddon-like, almost total damage or destruction of all buildings whether they be public buildings, homes or other private facilities,” by Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell. (Miami Herald)
This is one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the region since Hurricane Maria in 2017, also a Category 5 storm, which hit Dominica, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and other parts of the Caribbean with devastating consequences. The estimated death toll was 3,059, with 2,975 of those deaths occurring in Puerto Rico alone. (Al Jazeera)
Forecasters predicted months ago it was going to be a nasty year and now they are comparing it to record-busy 1933 and deadly 2005 – the year of Katrina, Rita, Wilma and Dennis, reports the Associated Press.
(See today’s Just Caribbean Updates for more.)
More Beryl
Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez was hospitalized after getting hit by a falling tree while assisting Beryl victims, reports Mercopress.
Brazil
“Brazilian public security think tank Fogo Cruzado released a new study, showing that congressional debates around gun regulations are becoming more and more frequent in Brazil,” according to Brazilian Report.
Panama
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino’s promise to stop transit through the Darién Gap is part of a broader determination to “wade assertively into hemispheric politics,” writes Mary Triny Zea in an Americas Quarterly piece that also looks at the country’s economic challenges ahead. (See yesterday’s post.)
Regional Relations
Two Russian ships docked in a Venezuelan port, the latest stop in military exercises in the Caribbean that started in Cuba last month. The stopover will last several days and highlight the close ties between Moscow and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, reports the Associated Press.
Top U.S. Democratic lawmakers met with Haiti’s newly installed prime minister, Garry Conille, and promised to support additional U.S. assistance for the beleaguered country, reports the New York Times. The U.S. Biden administration is planning to release $100 million for a newly started international security mission, but Conille said that more money would be needed urgently.
Haiti
Haiti’s current transition process is a unique opportunity to build back better, writes Xavier Michon in Americas Quarterly.
A mountain road is the last free connection between Port-au-Prince to the rest of the world — DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO
Critter Corner
A white rhino born in a Santiago zoo is hailed by conservationists as a major achievement for an almost endangered species — Associated Press.