Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds, expected to hit the southern coast soon, warns the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The storm has killed nine across the Caribbean, with more expected as communication improves.

Union Island saw 90% of homes destroyed or damaged, according to BBC.

A curfew is in place in Jamaica, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness urges evacuations from flood-prone areas.

The Jamaica Public Service Company paused power restoration for worker safety.

NHC's Dr. Michael Brennan warns of "devastating hurricane-force winds," 12 inches of rain, flooding, mudslides, and 9-foot storm surges.

Residents are advised to stay in safe places for at least 12 hours.

READ NEXT: Caribbean Devastated by Record-Breaking Category 4 Hurricane Beryl 

Impact Across the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica Wednesday, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain.

The Category 4 storm had already killed at least seven people and caused severe damage in the southeastern Caribbean.

Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac were under hurricane warnings.

Although Beryl was expected to weaken, it was still forecast to remain a major hurricane as it moved past Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Jamaica declared a state of emergency, with an island-wide curfew and evacuation orders for flood-prone areas.

Prime Minister Holness assured that security forces would maintain order and assist with disaster relief, AP News reports.

Hurricane Beryl, which briefly reached Category 5 status, had maximum maintained winds of 140 mph and was 65 miles from Kingston on Wednesday.

Heavy rains threatened flash flooding and mudslides.

The storm was expected to impact Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and potentially hit the Gulf coast states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas.

In the Caribbean, rescue crews assessed the damage, with three deaths in Grenada and Carriacou, one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two in Venezuela, where five people were missing.

Approximately 25,000 people in Venezuela were affected by heavy rainfall.

Damage and Response

A fatality in Grenada occurred when a tree fell on a house, according to Environment Minister Kerryne James.

Carriacou and Petit Martinique suffered the most damage, with many homes and businesses flattened.

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell reported widespread power outages and impassable roads.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves pledged to rebuild, noting that 90% of homes on Union Island were destroyed.

Journalist Mikey Hutchinson described extensive damage to homes and agriculture in Grenada, Aljazeera noted.

The destruction recalled Hurricane Ivan from 20 years ago, which devastated Grenada.

United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell highlighted the worsening climate crisis, pointing to Hurricane Beryl's impact on his parents' home in Carriacou and other global climate-related disasters.

Beryl, the Atlantic season's first hurricane, is an early and intense storm, reflecting climate change's influence.

It rapidly strengthened from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm in under 10 hours, the fastest recorded before September.

The 2024 hurricane season is expected to be highly active, with up to 25 named storms, including 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

This projection surpasses the average of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

READ MORE: Hurricane Beryl Upgrades to Category 5, Targets Jamaica After Caribbean Devastation 

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Hurricane Beryl roars toward Jamaica after killing at least 6 people in the southeast Caribbean - From WHAS11