- Hurricane Beryl kills seven and cuts power for millions in the US
- Beryl has been downgraded to a tropical depression and brought winds, heavy rains and storm surges
- Before making landfall in the US, Beryl had killed ten people in the Caribbean
- The storm is expected to move northeast, bringing heavy rain and potential tornadoes to several central U.S. states
- Beryl was one of the earliest and most powerful hurricanes recorded
Hurricane Beryl kills seven and cuts power for millions
At least seven people have died after Hurricane Beryl hit southeast Texas and Louisiana, causing widespread power outages for nearly three million people. Initially a category one hurricane, Beryl has since weakened to a tropical depression. The storm brought destructive winds, heavy rain, and dangerous storm surges, leading to more than 1,100 flight cancellations at Houston’s main airport.
In Texas, 2.6 million residents were left without power, with additional outages in Louisiana. The storm claimed lives in Harris and Montgomery counties, Texas, and one fatality was reported in Louisiana. Victims included a man crushed by a fallen tree, a grandmother killed when a tree hit her home, a police department employee who drowned, and three others who died from storm-related incidents.
Beryl’s impact also caused ten deaths in the Caribbean before reaching the U.S. The storm produced wind speeds of up to 87 mph and continued to pose risks of flash flooding and tornadoes. Ports in Texas were closed, and over 2,500 emergency responders, including the Texas National Guard, were mobilised to handle the aftermath.
The storm is expected to move northeast, bringing heavy rain and potential tornadoes to several central U.S. states. Beryl was one of the earliest and most powerful hurricanes recorded, fueled by exceptionally high sea surface temperatures, which are linked to climate change.
There’s some serious flooding in Galveston and Houston from Hurricane Beryl.
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) July 8, 2024
Multiple tornadoes have touched down and power lines have fallen.
Authorities are already reporting one death.
Stay safe and stay inside, Galveston County and Harris County! pic.twitter.com/e7LVYjoiTB