Major tourist resorts in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula are bracing themselves for Hurricane Beryl to strike after leaving a trail of devastation across the Caribbean.
A hurricane warning was announced overnight for the entire east coast of the Yucatan, including Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen after Beryl swept west from Jamaica.
The US National Hurricane Center warned of hurricane-force winds, a dangerous storm surge and damaging waves hitting the Mexican coastal region.
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The Foreign Office said in an updated travel alert: “Hurricane conditions are expected from the evening of July 4 along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula as a result of Hurricane Beryl.
“Flights, including from Cancun airport may be cancelled at short notice. Tulum airport will be closed until July 7 at 12:00 local time.
“Ferry services are suspended and are expected to resume on Saturday 6 July. Bus services are suspended until further notice.”
Many Caribbean hotels suffered damage with some forced to close temporarily for repairs to be carried out.
Among those was the Bequia Beach Hotel in St Vincent and the Grenadines, which has been forced to close until at least July 31.
A statement on Facebook said: “Unfortunately Bequia Beach Hotel has sustained damage to beachfront areas during Hurricane Beryl.
“Our fantastic team of staff continue to do al the can to ensure the wellbeing and safety of guests in-house with limited resources while many of their own homes were severely damaged.”
The latest Foreign Office travel advice for Jamaica said: “There are disruptions to services island-wide, including to airports. There is also a risk of flash flooding and land/mudslides.”
Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association president Nicola Madden-Greig said: “Jamaica was spared the worst of the hurricane and we have now returned to regular business operations.
She reported that airports in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios re-opened yesterday, while Norman Manley airport in Kingston will open today after minor repairs are completed.
“We have no reports of any guests being injured during the passage of the storm, and the majority of the hotels and the tourism industry in general have emerged unscathed,” Madden-Greig added.
The trade association leader was encouraged with the reports emanating from the Cayman Islands, which confirmed no major impact on the sector there.
“We are thankful to God for sparing us for the most part, and we are now resolved to getting our industry back on track, while serving communities, especially those in the Grenadines, who are in dire need at this time,” added Madden-Greig.
The Sandals Foundation has set up a disaster relief initiative with 100% of every dollar going directly to the organisation’s Caribbean emergency response efforts.
A Sandals Resorts International spokesperson said: “As expected with a storm of this magnitude, some areas in Jamaica are without power or wifi access today, however our resorts are equipped with backup power generators to provide guests as much comfort as possible.
“We are incredibly fortunate as the majority of work over the next few days involves addressing damage to trees and landscaping, returning outdoor furniture and supplies to common resort areas and bringing the full resort experience back online.
“Although regular commercial flights have been disrupted, airports in the region are quickly reopening and working to restore schedules. We are encouraging guests to remain in the comfort and safety of our resorts until their return flights are confirmed.”
At least three people were reportedly killed in Grenada when Beryl made landfall on Monday as the earliest category five storm ever recorded in the Atlantic hurricane season, signifying winds of at least 157 mph.
Other deaths were reported in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “As a result of the adverse weather conditions caused by Hurricane Beryl, we’re working closely with our local teams in the Caribbean to understand any impact to local airports infrastructure and minimise disruption to our services.
“We are contacting affected customers regarding their travel arrangements, including the option to rebook if they no longer wish to travel.”