Hurricane Melissa death toll rises to 28 in Jamaica
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Death toll from Hurricane Melissa rises to 28 in Jamaica
The death toll from Hurricane Michael has risen to 28. The storm is one of the most powerful ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. More than 100,000 people have been affected by the storm. The death toll is expected to rise as the storm continues.
In the update Saturday evening Prime Minister Andrew Holness said authorities, including the Jamaica Defence Force and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, were coordinating the recovery and verification process and that additional updates of possible deaths were still being verified.
“We extend heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and communities mourning their loved ones,” Holness said in a statement.
Melissa ripped across Jamaica with torrential rain and rough winds after making landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.
Thirteen cargo relief flights arrived on Thursday at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and more than 20 additional cargo flights are expected to arrive on Friday, according to Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz.
Eight to 10 US government helicopters that are capable of airlifting patients are also on the way, he said.
“The relief and the support we have gotten is overwhelming. And we thank our partners all across the world,” Vaz said.
Hurricane Melissa death toll rises to 28 in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa death toll rises to 28 in Jamaica as a result of the storm. At least 31 people have been killed in Haiti, while at least two deaths have been reported in the Dominican Republic. 72% of people across Jamaica still do not have electricity and around 6,000 are in emergency shelters. Emergency responders and aid agencies have struggled to reach certain parts of the island due to blocked roads, debris and flooding. The full scale of the destruction Melissa wrought on Jamaica has only become clear in the past few days as the hurricane knocked out communication systems and power.
Image source, Getty Images
Author, Aleks Phillips Role,
2 hours ago
The number of people killed in Jamaica as a result of Hurricane Melissa has risen to 28, the Caribbean nation’s prime minister has announced.
Andrew Holness confirmed nine other deaths on Saturday, adding that there were reports of possible fatalities still being verified – suggesting the figure may yet rise.
Emergency responders and aid agencies have struggled to reach certain parts of the island in the aftermath of the storm due to blocked roads, debris and flooding.
The category five hurricane – the strongest type – has caused dozens of deaths across the Caribbean, bringing powerful winds and landslides to Cuba and Haiti.
The full scale of the destruction Melissa wrought on Jamaica has only become clear in the past few days as the hurricane knocked out communication systems and power to much of the island after it made landfall on Tuesday.
Communities on the island’s western portion, such as Black River and Montego Bay, have seen the worst of the destruction.
Images have emerged showing buildings razed to the ground, debris and belongings strewn on streets, and whole neighbourhoods still under floodwater.
The Red Cross says that 72% of people across Jamaica still do not have electricity and around 6,000 are in emergency shelters.
Jamaican officials confirmed to news agency AFP that multiple field hospitals were being established to treat people in the worst-affected areas in the west.
Aid reaching those in need was initially held up by the temporary closure of Jamaica’s airports.
Now that it is arriving in the country, landslides, downed power lines and fallen trees have made certain roads impassable – complicating its distribution.
With so many in need of clean drinking water, food and medicine, there have been reports of desperate people entering supermarkets and pharmacies to gather what they can.
Melissa has become the most powerful storm on record to hit Jamaica, and one of the strongest seen in the Caribbean.
At its peak, the hurricane had sustained winds of 185mph (295 km/h). A category five hurricane – those capable of catastrophic damage – has winds in excess of 157mph.
At least 31 people have been killed in Haiti as a result of Melissa, while at least two deaths have been reported in the Dominican Republic.
In Cuba, thousands of people have been evacuated as more than 60,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.
The impact of climate change on the frequency of storms is still unclear, but increased sea surface temperatures warm the air above and make more energy available to drive hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons. As a result, they are likely to be more intense with more extreme rainfall.
Hurricane Melissa: Britons evacuated from Jamaica as UK sends aid
Britons evacuated from Jamaica as UK sends Hurricane Melissa aid to the island. Around 8,000 British nationals were thought to have been on the island when the hurricane hit. The UK initially set aside a £2.5m immediate financial support package for the region. An additional £5m was announced by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Friday as “more information… on the scale of the devastation” emerged. The Red Cross said that 72% of people across Jamaica still do not have electricity and around 6,000 are in emergency shelters. At least 28 people have been killed in Haiti and Cuba.
2 hours ago Share Save Cachella Smith and Will Grant, in Kingston Share Save
EPA/Shutterstock Black River was one of the worst hit areas by Hurricane Melissa with residents previously telling the BBC they have lived in a state of chaos since the storm
A flight chartered by the UK government to evacuate British nationals from Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa is due to land at London’s Gatwick Airport. The flight, which left Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport on Saturday, comes after the UK flew in aid as part of a £7.5m regional emergency package. Some of the funding will be used to match public donations up to £1m to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent – with King Charles and Queen Camilla among those to have donated. Despite aid arriving in Jamaica in recent days, blocked roads have complicated distribution after Melissa devastated parts of the island, killing at least 28 people.
Melissa swept across the region over a number of days, leaving behind a trail of destruction and dozens of people dead. In Haiti, at least 31 people were killed, while Cuba also saw flooding and landslides. Jamaica’s Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon said on Friday “there are entire communities that seem to be marooned and areas that seem to be flattened”. Around 8,000 British nationals were thought to have been on the island when the hurricane hit. The UK Foreign Office has asked citizens there to register their presence and advised travellers to contact their airline to check whether commercial options were available. The UK initially set aside a £2.5m immediate financial support package for the region, with an additional £5m announced by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Friday as “more information… on the scale of the devastation” emerged. The British Red Cross said the King and Queen’s donation would help the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) “continue its lifesaving work” – which includes search and rescue efforts in Jamaica as well as ensuring access to healthcare, safe shelter and clean water. The Red Cross said that 72% of people across Jamaica still do not have electricity and around 6,000 are in emergency shelters. Until the Jamaican government can get the broken electricity grid back up and running, any generators aid agencies can distribute will be vital. So too will tarpaulins, given the extent of the housing crisis. Meanwhile, with so many in need of clean drinking water and basic food, patience is wearing thin and there are more reports of desperate people entering supermarkets to gather and give out whatever food they can find. The BBC has seen queues for petrol pumps, with people waiting for hours to then be told there is no fuel left when they reach the front of the queue. Some people are seeking fuel for generators, others to drive to an area where they can contact people, with the power down across most of the island.
AFP via Getty Images Parts of St Elizabeth have experienced flooding in recent days
Hurricane death toll in Jamaica climbs to 28
The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to 28, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) are coordinating the recovery.
The update was provided yesterday.
The Category 5 storm made landfall on Tuesday, causing widespread devastation in western parishes.
“We extend heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and communities mourning their loved ones,” said the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
OPM says reports of possible fatalities are still being verified, noting that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), and the Ministry of Health & Wellness are coordinating the recovery and verification process.
The Government says it will provide further updates as verification progresses, and recovery operations advance in the coming days.
Hurricane Melissa death toll rises to 28 in Jamaica
The confirmed death toll from Hurricane Melissa has increased to twenty-eight, according to an announcement by the nation’s prime minister. The category five hurricane, the most powerful classification with sustained winds reaching 185mph, has become the most intense storm recorded in Jamaican history. Western communities including Black River and Montego Bay suffered the most severe damage, with photographic evidence showing buildings completely demolished.
The category five hurricane, the most powerful classification with sustained winds reaching 185mph, has become the most intense storm recorded in Jamaican history. Its full impact has only become apparent in recent days after communications and power infrastructure failures initially obscured the scale of destruction.
Western communities including Black River and Montego Bay suffered the most severe damage, with photographic evidence showing buildings completely demolished, widespread debris distribution, and extensive neighborhood flooding. Current assessments indicate that 72% of Jamaica’s population remains without electricity, with approximately 6,000 individuals requiring emergency shelter accommodation.
Relief operations face significant logistical challenges due to blocked roadways, landslides, and flood damage impairing access to affected regions. Jamaican authorities have confirmed the establishment of multiple field hospitals in western areas to address medical needs, while aid distribution continues to be hampered by infrastructure damage.
The hurricane’s impact extends across the Caribbean region, with Haiti reporting thirty-one fatalities and the Dominican Republic confirming two deaths. In Cuba, over 60,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents.