Hurricane Beryl, which wreaked havoc across the eastern Caribbean and left at least nine people dead, weakened as it moved over open water toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday.

Initially, the storm was the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic. It had downgraded to Category 2 by the afternoon, according to AP News.

Jack Beven, a senior hurricane professional at the US Hurricane Center, indicated that Beryl's potential landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula is now the most pressing threat.

"The biggest immediate threat now that the storm is moving away from the Cayman Islands is landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula," Beven stated.

By Thursday afternoon, the storm's center was about 215 miles (345 kilometers) east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico. Beryl had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 20 mph (31 kph).

The storm was anticipated to bring heavy rain and moderate winds to Mexico's Caribbean coast before crossing the Yucatan and restrengthening in the Gulf of Mexico, potentially making a second strike on northeast Mexico.

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

Hurricane Beryl's Aftermath in the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl caused significant damage in the Caribbean, destroying 95% of homes on two islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, upending boats in Barbados, and tearing roofs off in Jamaica.

The Cayman Islands felt its impact early Thursday while Mexico's Caribbean coast prepared extensively.

Shelters were ready, coastal communities evacuated, and sea turtle eggs relocated, Aljazeera reports.

In Playa del Carmen, businesses closed and boarded up windows. Tulum authorities shut down hotels and evacuated the area.

By Thursday afternoon, gusts hit Tulum's beaches, and tourists were urged to leave.

In Kingston, Jamaica, heavy rain and strong winds posed severe threats, especially to farmland. About 65% of Jamaican energy provider JPS customers lost power. Significant roof loss, house destruction, and blocked roads were reported.

King Charles III expressed sadness over the destruction, and the UN unlocked $4 million for recovery efforts in Jamaica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness thanked responders and good Samaritans for their help during the crisis.

Devastation and Response to Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl stunned meteorologists with its rapid intensification, escalating from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in 42 hours. It devastated the southern Windward Islands, claiming at least 11 lives and causing widespread damage.

In Jamaica, one fatality occurred when a tree fell on a home in Hanover parish, BBC noted. Hundreds sought refuge in shelters, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness ensuring ample supplies.

The Cayman Islands faced destructive winds and life-threatening storm surges, prompting a Hurricane Warning. Premier Julianna O'Connor-Connolly urged residents to secure properties and stock up on essentials.

Meanwhile, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves reported that 90% of homes on Union Island were destroyed and the airport suffered severe damage.

Grenada and Carriacou suffered similarly, with buildings flattened and fatalities reported. 

As Hurricane Beryl moved towards the Gulf of Mexico, preparations intensified in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, including popular tourist spots like Cancun.

The storm's trajectory and intensity remained under close observation, with authorities readying for potential impacts in the region.

READ MORE: Jamaica Braces for Hurricane Beryl Amid Rising Caribbean Death Toll 

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Hurricane Beryl pounds Jamaica, churns toward Mexico - From CBC News: The National