At least 200 British citizens are currently staying in a hotel in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa, a dangerous Category 5 storm, approaches the Caribbean island. With sustained winds exceeding 157mph, Melissa poses a severe threat of heavy rains and destructive winds in Jamaica.
Having already caused casualties and displacements in neighboring islands like the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Melissa is projected to impact Jamaica with even stronger winds. Due to flight cancellations, British holidaymaker Andrew Tracey, who arrived in Jamaica recently, along with around 200 other Brits, are confined to their hotel rooms until at least Wednesday. Both of Jamaica’s international airports have been shut down since Sunday.
Expressing his concerns, Andrew mentioned that had he known about the impending hurricane, he would not have traveled to Jamaica. The anticipation and tension among guests at the hotel are palpable, especially for those unfamiliar with such severe weather conditions.
Authorities fear that Melissa could be the most powerful hurricane to hit Jamaica in decades. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared the entire island under threat due to the storm’s severity. Shelters are open, emergency response teams are prepared, and substantial funds have been allocated for disaster management.
The Foreign Office has issued a warning about Hurricane Melissa’s expected impact, forecasting extreme rainfall, storm surges, and strong winds in Jamaica. The Jamaican government has closed its international airports until further notice to ensure public safety.
Named Melissa by the US National Hurricane Center and the World Meteorological Organization, the storm follows a six-year naming cycle and names are only retired if a storm’s impact is particularly catastrophic.
