Jamaica's Death Toll Mounts Amid Ongoing Relief Efforts as Storm Heads North
As Hurricane Melissa continues to wreak havoc across the Caribbean, the death toll has risen to 49 in Jamaica, with four more fatalities reported since Tuesday. The storm made landfall on the island, bringing sustained winds of 185mph - a category 5 hurricane's minimum wind speed - and causing widespread destruction.
Haiti, the country hardest hit by Melissa's passage, has seen its death toll rise to 30, with 20 people still unaccounted for. The situation remains dire in Haiti, where the storm's arrival was preceded by an evacuation of nearly 735,000 people from their homes.
In Bermuda, residents have been advised to remain calm as the category 2 storm moves northwards, packing maximum sustained winds of 100mph (155km/h). Authorities are taking precautions, including closing the island's causeway and shutting down schools and ferries. The British government has also chartered flights for British nationals stranded in Jamaica.
Meanwhile, across the Bahamas, Melissa has passed through its archipelago, with nearly 1,500 people evacuated from their homes as part of one of the largest evacuation operations. Despite losing power, the storm remains a force to be reckoned with, still carrying winds of close to 105 miles an hour (165kph).
As the storm continues on its north-easterly trajectory, relief efforts are intensifying in Jamaica and other affected countries. With the devastation caused by Melissa estimated to be in the billions of dollars, aid is pouring in from around the world.
The full extent of the damage remains unclear, but images from Cuba's Santiago de Cuba province have shown widespread destruction, with people surrounded by downed trees, power lines, and debris. As Hurricane Melissa heads north, one thing is certain: the Caribbean will be facing a long and difficult road to recovery in the aftermath of this devastating storm.
As Hurricane Melissa continues to wreak havoc across the Caribbean, the death toll has risen to 49 in Jamaica, with four more fatalities reported since Tuesday. The storm made landfall on the island, bringing sustained winds of 185mph - a category 5 hurricane's minimum wind speed - and causing widespread destruction.
Haiti, the country hardest hit by Melissa's passage, has seen its death toll rise to 30, with 20 people still unaccounted for. The situation remains dire in Haiti, where the storm's arrival was preceded by an evacuation of nearly 735,000 people from their homes.
In Bermuda, residents have been advised to remain calm as the category 2 storm moves northwards, packing maximum sustained winds of 100mph (155km/h). Authorities are taking precautions, including closing the island's causeway and shutting down schools and ferries. The British government has also chartered flights for British nationals stranded in Jamaica.
Meanwhile, across the Bahamas, Melissa has passed through its archipelago, with nearly 1,500 people evacuated from their homes as part of one of the largest evacuation operations. Despite losing power, the storm remains a force to be reckoned with, still carrying winds of close to 105 miles an hour (165kph).
As the storm continues on its north-easterly trajectory, relief efforts are intensifying in Jamaica and other affected countries. With the devastation caused by Melissa estimated to be in the billions of dollars, aid is pouring in from around the world.
The full extent of the damage remains unclear, but images from Cuba's Santiago de Cuba province have shown widespread destruction, with people surrounded by downed trees, power lines, and debris. As Hurricane Melissa heads north, one thing is certain: the Caribbean will be facing a long and difficult road to recovery in the aftermath of this devastating storm.