The UK government is arranging special flights to assist British citizens in leaving Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. As the death toll rises from the catastrophic natural disaster, officials are organizing planes to evacuate British nationals. Jamaica has confirmed five fatalities, while at least 20 individuals have lost their lives in Haiti due to flooding triggered by the powerful category five storm.
With wind speeds reaching 185mph, Hurricane Melissa stands as one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record. The UK has pledged £2.5 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Jamaica. Keir Starmer expressed shock at the footage depicting the destruction, while the Prime Minister informed MPs that HMS Trent and specialized rapid deployment teams are positioned in the region to provide assistance.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, many are left stranded without power and facing damaged infrastructure amidst the flooding. Although Hurricane Melissa has downgraded to a category one storm, it is anticipated to bring additional strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Over 25,000 individuals sought shelter in Jamaica on Wednesday after the storm tore roofs off their homes. Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s education minister, reported that 77% of the island was without electricity. Prime Minister Andrew Holness assured that the government is fully engaged in the recovery efforts and is mobilizing relief supplies to restore normalcy swiftly.
Prime Minister Holness described the devastation in the southwest coastal town of Black River as “ground zero,” emphasizing that the community is still grappling with the extent of the destruction. Due to widespread power outages, assessing the damage has been complicated by a complete communication blackout in certain areas, according to Richard Thompson, the acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.
