BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, July 2, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Hurricane Beryl strengthened to a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm late Monday, the US National Hurricane Center said, as it continued to pummel the Caribbean.

"Beryl is now a potentially catastrophic category," the NHS said in a bulletin at 11:00 pm (0300 GMT). "Fluctuations in strength are likely... but Beryl is expected to still be near major hurricane intensity" as it moves into the Caribbean on Tuesday, towards Jamaica.