Braced for Beryl..

Jamaicans on red alert after huge hurricane kills at least 7

- MARTIN FRICKER

HURRICANE Beryl slammed into Jamaica last night as life-threatening winds and torrential rain forced locals to evacuate their homes.

A giant 9ft storm surge hit coastal areas of the Caribbean island as the Category Four hurricane struck.

Flights from the UK to Kingston and Montego Bay were cancelled.

Jamaican PM Andrew Holness had issued a 12-hour curfew from 6am yesterday ahead of the hurricane's arrival.

He said urgent measures were needed after the storm left at least seven dead and homes destroyed on other islands.