The death toll from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica has climbed to 45, and 15 individuals are reported missing, as per officials on Tuesday. Rescue operations are ongoing in two isolated towns hit by the powerful Category 5 storm on October 28.
Efforts to reach these communities, still cut off due to the storm, are being supported by helicopter drops of essential supplies, according to Alvin Gayle, head of Jamaica’s emergency management office. The disaster has forced 30,000 households to flee, with 1,100 people taking refuge in 88 emergency shelters that are operational.
As cleanup crews work to clear debris, around 35 roads are still impassable. Authorities have highlighted that half of the population has access to mobile service, and over 70% now have access to clean water.
Amidst the restoration efforts, electricity has been reinstated to over 60% of customers, marking significant progress in the face of extensive damage, noted Hugh Grant, CEO of Jamaica’s power company. Notably, power has been restored at Montego Bay’s international airport.
Hurricane Melissa, a historically powerful Atlantic storm, wreaked havoc in western Jamaica before moving on to devastate eastern Cuba. In addition, significant flooding in Haiti resulted in at least 43 fatalities linked to the storm.
International aid is flowing into the affected regions, including Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas, to aid in the recovery process. The U.S. government recently pledged an extra $10 million for Jamaica and $2.5 million for Haiti, bringing the total assistance to nearly $37 million for the impacted nations.
