The UK government is arranging flights to assist British citizens in leaving Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Authorities are organizing flights to evacuate British nationals as the death toll from the catastrophic natural disaster continues to climb. Jamaica has confirmed five deaths, while Haiti has reported at least 20 fatalities due to flooding triggered by the category five hurricane, which brought winds of 185mph, ranking it as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record.
In response to the crisis, the UK is providing Jamaica with £2.5 million in emergency humanitarian aid. Keir Starmer expressed shock at the footage of the destruction caused by the hurricane. During a parliamentary session, the Prime Minister informed MPs that HMS Trent and specialized rapid deployment teams had been strategically positioned in the region to offer support.
Many individuals are currently stranded without power and facing infrastructure damage in the aftermath of the floods. Although Hurricane Melissa has been downgraded to a category one storm, it is expected to bring additional strong winds and heavy rainfall.
In Jamaica, over 25,000 people sought refuge in shelters after their homes were devastated by the storm. Jamaica’s education minister, Dana Morris Dixon, highlighted that 77% of the island was without electricity. Prime Minister Andrew Holness assured the public that the government is fully mobilized for the recovery efforts, with relief supplies being readied to restore normalcy swiftly.
Holness described the situation in the southwest coastal community of Black River as “ground zero,” emphasizing the immense destruction faced by the residents. Richard Thompson, acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, noted the challenges in assessing the damage due to a complete communication blackout in certain areas.
The power outages have further complicated relief efforts, with authorities working diligently to address the aftermath of the disaster.