Hurricane Beryl barreled across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean’s Windward Islands as an “extremely dangerous” storm on Monday, threatening to devastate communities with floods, storm surges and life-threatening high winds, officials said.
Locals boarded up shops, stocked up on food and filled their cars with petrol as the storm approached. The prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, said he was expecting a natural disaster that could continue for days.
It was an unusually fierce and early start to this year’s Atlantic hurricane season — the earliest Category 4 storm on record, according to National Hurricane Center data on Sunday.
Beryl had weakened earlier on Monday to Category 3 and then picked up again to 4 on a five-point scale, packing maximum sustained wind speeds exceeding 193 kph, with some higher gusts, about 180 km southeast of Barbados, the NHC said.
It would likely bring catastrophic winds and a storm surge early on Tuesday in the Windward islands, it said.
“Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane as its core moves through the Windward Islands into the eastern Caribbean,” the NHC warned.
It advised people in the storm’s path to take heed of authorities’ advice on evacuations and preparedness.
Hurricane warnings were in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Tobago. A tropical storm warning was issued for Martinique and Trinidad, with storm watches for parts of the Dominican Republic and parts of Haiti.
Tobago has opened shelters, closed schools for Monday, and canceled elective surgeries in the hospitals, authorities said.
The hurricane is expected to bring 8 to 15 cm of rain across Barbados and the Windward Islands throughout the day on Monday, which the NHC warned could cause flash flooding in vulnerable areas.
Large, dangerous swells are also expected to batter the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in May predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic in 2024, amid near-record warm ocean temperatures.
Hurricane Dennis became a Category 4 on July 8, 2005, according to NHC data, making it the second earliest on record in the June-November season.
![]()
‘Extremely dangerous’ Hurricane Beryl hurtles toward Caribbean
Short Url
https://arab.news/c9vrx
‘Extremely dangerous’ Hurricane Beryl hurtles toward Caribbean
- Beryl had weakened earlier on Monday to Category 3 and then picked up again to 4 on a five-point scale
Taiwan police rule out ‘terrorism’ in metro stabbing
- Taiwan police on Sunday ruled out “terrorism” in a metro stabbing in the capital Taipei, where an attacker killed three and wounded 11
TAIPEI: Taiwan police on Sunday ruled out “terrorism” in a metro stabbing in the capital Taipei, where an attacker killed three and wounded 11.
A 27-year-old man, identified by police by his family name Chang, set off smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station metro on Friday afternoon before launching into a three hour stabbing spree.
The attacker then moved to a shopping district near Zhongshan station, authorities said.
“Based on what we have established so far in the investigation, the suspect Chang did not make or display any statements or views related to politics, religion, or any specific ideology, and we have preliminarily ruled out terrorism,” a senior Taipei City Police Department official told AFP, under the condition of anonymity.
“Terrorist attacks have a specific definition and the suspect does not meet that definition,” he added.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said the suspect was found dead the same day, after jumping off a nearby building.
The senior police official said investigators also found searches for “random killings” on Chang’s iPad, including material related to a Taipei metro stabbing in 2014 when a man killed four people.
Chang had served in the military but was discharged over driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police, who said he was wanted after he failed to report for reserve military training.
Taiwan requires former soldiers to undergo seven to 14 days of reserve training within eight years of discharge. Failure to report is treated as evasion of military service.
In the immediate aftermath of the Friday stabbing, officials called the attack “deliberate” but said the motive was not clear.
Police said they believe Chang had acted alone and planned to “randomly kill people.” He rented an apartment in the district in January and scouted the area in advance.
The city doubled its police deployment for the Taipei Marathon on Sunday and is expected to conduct a “high-intensity” drill at metro stations ahead of New Year’s Eve, the mayor said.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday that authorities should be “more cautious and proactive” and improve emergency protocols.
Lai said the police must be “trained and equipped for counter-terrorism operations” to protect citizens.
Metro Taipei announced that it had shut down a Christmas market near Zhongshan station on Saturday, which will remain closed for three days in honor of the victims.
A 27-year-old man, identified by police by his family name Chang, set off smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station metro on Friday afternoon before launching into a three hour stabbing spree.
The attacker then moved to a shopping district near Zhongshan station, authorities said.
“Based on what we have established so far in the investigation, the suspect Chang did not make or display any statements or views related to politics, religion, or any specific ideology, and we have preliminarily ruled out terrorism,” a senior Taipei City Police Department official told AFP, under the condition of anonymity.
“Terrorist attacks have a specific definition and the suspect does not meet that definition,” he added.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said the suspect was found dead the same day, after jumping off a nearby building.
The senior police official said investigators also found searches for “random killings” on Chang’s iPad, including material related to a Taipei metro stabbing in 2014 when a man killed four people.
Chang had served in the military but was discharged over driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police, who said he was wanted after he failed to report for reserve military training.
Taiwan requires former soldiers to undergo seven to 14 days of reserve training within eight years of discharge. Failure to report is treated as evasion of military service.
In the immediate aftermath of the Friday stabbing, officials called the attack “deliberate” but said the motive was not clear.
Police said they believe Chang had acted alone and planned to “randomly kill people.” He rented an apartment in the district in January and scouted the area in advance.
The city doubled its police deployment for the Taipei Marathon on Sunday and is expected to conduct a “high-intensity” drill at metro stations ahead of New Year’s Eve, the mayor said.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday that authorities should be “more cautious and proactive” and improve emergency protocols.
Lai said the police must be “trained and equipped for counter-terrorism operations” to protect citizens.
Metro Taipei announced that it had shut down a Christmas market near Zhongshan station on Saturday, which will remain closed for three days in honor of the victims.
Latest updates
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.