The UK Government is organizing flights to assist British citizens in departing Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Authorities are coordinating the deployment of aircraft to evacuate British nationals as the death toll from the catastrophic natural calamity continues to climb. In Jamaica, five fatalities have been confirmed, while in Haiti, at least 20 individuals have lost their lives due to flooding triggered by the intense category five storm.
With wind speeds reaching 185mph, Hurricane Melissa stands as one of the most formidable Atlantic hurricanes on record. The UK has pledged £2.5 million in emergency humanitarian aid to support Jamaica during this crisis. Observing the distressing footage of the aftermath, Keir Starmer expressed his shock, while the Prime Minister informed Members of Parliament that HMS Trent and specialized rapid deployment teams are on standby in the region to provide assistance.
In the aftermath of the storm, many people find themselves stranded without power and facing damaged infrastructure amidst the floods. Although Hurricane Melissa has been downgraded to a category one storm, it is expected to bring continued strong winds and heavy rainfall.
In Jamaica, over 25,000 individuals sought refuge in shelters after their homes were ravaged by the storm, leaving 77% of the island without electricity, as revealed by Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s education minister.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness assured the public in a statement that while recovery will be a gradual process, the government is fully engaged in mobilizing resources. Relief supplies are being readied, and efforts are underway to expedite the restoration of normalcy.
Detailing the devastation in the southwest coastal town of Black River, Prime Minister Holness described it as the epicenter of destruction where residents are grappling with the aftermath.
The widespread power outages have hindered damage assessments due to a communication blackout in numerous areas, as highlighted by Richard Thompson, the acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, in an interview with the Nationwide News Network radio station.
