The Indian cricket team found itself confined to their hotel in Barbados as Hurricane Beryl intensified, forcing the closure of the island’s airport. Originally categorized as a severe Category 3 storm on Sunday, Beryl has since escalated to a Category 4 hurricane, the second most severe classification.
Vikrant Gupta of India Today reported the closure of the Barbados airport, describing the situation as akin to a curfew with strict restrictions on movement. The hurricane, anticipated to hit within the next few hours, has prompted authorities to enforce safety measures, leaving the Indian team indoors and uncertain about their travel plans.
“Barbados airport has been shut down. It’s now a curfew-like situation with no one allowed outside. Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in the next 6 hours. Rain has already begun. Beryl has been upgraded to Category 4 (the second most severe). Team India remains packed in their hotel. The next 24 hours are uncertain,” said Gupta.
According to the Washington Post, Hurricane Beryl is poised to impact the Windward Islands with wind speeds surpassing 130 mph. The storm surge is forecasted to reach between 6 to 9 feet, accompanied by rainfall ranging from 3 to 6 inches.
The National Hurricane Center predicts that Beryl will maintain its strength as it traverses the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea from late Monday through Wednesday, posing ongoing risks to the region.
