Hurricane Beryl swept through Jamaica, uprooting trees and roofs and destroying farms after it passed through the Caribbean islands.
The number of deaths as a result of the powerful Category 4 hurricane rose to at least nine people, but it is expected to increase with the return of telecommunications across the sunken islands that were damaged by torrents and stormy winds.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that nearly 500 Jamaicans fled to shelters, and urged people in vulnerable areas to flee.
Airports in the capital, Kingston, and the popular tourist resort of Montego Bay were closed on Wednesday.
Deaths and damage caused by Beryl highlights the consequences of a warming Atlantic Ocean, which scientists consider an indicator of climate change.
Source: Qatar News Agency