The European Union (EU) is today (July 3) mobilising €450,000 in emergency humanitarian aid to support citizens of Grenada and St Vincent following the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl in the Eastern Caribbean.

In addition, the EU-managed Copernicus programme will provide critical satellite data to plot and assess the extent of the damage.

Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska, announcing on X, formerly Twitter, said the EU stands ready to assist wherever is needed.

In solidarity with the people of 🇬🇩&🇻🇨 & in response to the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl, the EU 🇪🇺 is releasing €450,000 in humanitarian aid for the most urgent needs of the affected people in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.@ECHO_LatAm @eu_echo pic.twitter.com/epxEcsbJ9C

— MWasilewska (@WasilewskaEU) July 3, 2024

Slamming into the Windward Islands on July 1 as a powerful Category 4 major hurricane, Beryl made landfall on Carriacou, between mainland Grenada and neighbouring St Vincent.

The historic cyclone—which later became the strongest Category 5 this early into a hurricane season—decimated the island-wide infrastructure of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, administrated by Grenada.

Beryl’s death toll increased to at least seven on Wednesday, but it is widely expected to rise as communications come back online across drenched islands damaged by flooding and deadly winds.

The unusually early hurricane strengthened at a record pace, which scientists argue is almost certainly fueled by climate change.

Beryl is the 2024 Atlantic season’s first hurricane and the earliest storm on record to reach the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson five-stage scale.

Additional confirmed fatalities so far include at least one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where Union Island has suffered severe destruction over around 90% of buildings, according to the prime minister.

In Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described “Armageddon-like” conditions with no power and widespread destruction, while also confirming three deaths.