South-east Caribbean braced for arrival of Hurricane Beryl

The south-east Caribbean began shutting down on Sunday amid urgent pleas for people to take shelter as Hurricane Beryl is forecast to strengthen into a powerful Category 4 storm (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/AP)

Hurricane Beryl is forecast to strengthen into a powerful Category 4 storm as it approaches the south-east Caribbean, which began shutting down on Sunday amid urgent pleas from government officials for people to take shelter.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.