The majority of the Country Blacked Out Without Electricity
The full extent of the damage from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica is only beginning to be revealed because much of the country has no electricity or phone lines. Three-quarters of Jamaica saw no electricity last night after the country’s most powerful storm in its modern history tore across the island on Tuesday. Information is trickling in very slowly because individuals cannot communicate with one another or the rest of the world.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness officially declared Jamaica a “disaster area” late Tuesday. He sounded alarms of “devastating impacts” and “serious damage” to hospitals, residences and businesses on the island. Although no fatalities have been officially reported yet, authorities fear individuals have lost their lives. Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon said his first order of business when the sun rose would be “to see if everybody is alive.”
Stronger Winds Than Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Melissa’s winds were a whopping 298 kilometres per hour at their strongest – that’s 185 miles per hour. They were even stronger than Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans back in 2005 and left 1,392 dead. Videos of roads becoming rivers, mud pouring down hills, roofs being blown off buildings and palm trees being blown around like toothpicks have been shared by people.
Much of western Jamaica is underwater. Houses were reduced to rubble by strong winds as the hurricane passed through with devastating power. A local member of parliament described the devastation as “the scene of an apocalypse movie.” In central Jamaica, floodwaters reached as high as the roofs of two-story homes. A woman reported to the BBC “There is water coming in through the roof of my house. I am not okay.”
Families Caught and City Divided in Half
The southwestern zone known as St Elizabeth is fully inundated by water, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie confirmed. Three families were trapped in their residences in the Black River area with rescue teams finding it difficult to reach them. Verna Genus, 73-year-old vegetable vendor, had taken refuge in her home when the hurricane tore off the zinc roof of the building entirely with her on it along with her sons and infant grandchild.
Along the north coast, Montego Bay – Jamaica’s tourism hub – was severely affected. Mayor Vernon reported the city is literally bisected by floodwaters. “One half of the city is now severed from the other because of roads being covered in flood water,” he explained to BBC Breakfast. Weather scientists explained that Hurricane Melissa intensified at a rate never seen before, being powered by exceptionally warm waters in the Caribbean associated with climate change. Thousands of tourists were stranded on the island throughout the storm.
News At Glance
- Three-quarters of Jamaica plunged into darkness after the most powerful hurricane in recent history
- Hurricane Melissa packed winds of 298 km/h, more powerful than Hurricane Katrina
- The Prime Minister declared Jamaica a disaster area with extensive infrastructure destruction
- Montego Bay city is divided into two by floodwaters severing one half
- Families stuck in homes as rescue teams fight to access them
FAQs
Q: How powerful was Hurricane Melissa in relation to other hurricanes?
A: Melissa reached a peak wind of 298 km/h (185 mph), so it was more powerful than Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed New Orleans in 2005. It was a Category 5 hurricane, the top rating.
Q: Why is it taking so long to hear the extent of the damage?
A: Three-quarters of Jamaica is without electricity and phone networks are out. With no power and communication lines down, people are cut off and news is seeping through extremely slowly.
Q: What places were hit the hardest?
A: Western Jamaica is mostly underwater. St Elizabeth’s parish is flooded entirely with families stranded in houses. Montego Bay is divided in half by floodwaters.
Q: Have there been deaths from the hurricane?
A: No one has been officially reported dead yet, but Prime Minister Andrew Holness expects casualties. The mayor of Montego Bay indicated that verifying if all people are alive is his top priority.
Q: Why was this hurricane so intense?
A: Weather scientists indicate exceptionally warm Caribbean waters powered the hurricane’s quick intensification. This trend is attributed to climate change intensifying storms.
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