At least 19 people have been killed in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa, but officials acknowledge that more bodies could still be found. The powerful storm that hit the Caribbean this week killed another 30 people in Haiti. Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon reports that whole communities, particularly in the western parts of Jamaica, look destroyed.
This hurricane hit Jamaica on Tuesday, whipping the island with 185 miles per hour winds. It was a Category 5 storm, which is the strongest type possible. Now search and rescue teams are trying to find survivors and bring help to people in dire need.
Roads Destroyed, Aid Can’t Get Through
Getting help to people has become a huge problem. Most of the island still has no electricity. Many areas haven’t had running water in days, and food is running low. People are growing more desperate by the hour.
The main airport in the capital city, Kingston is working again and aid supplies are flying in. But smaller airports near the hardest hit areas are still badly damaged. Relief workers and soldiers are trying to drive supplies from Kingston but the roads are torn apart.
It is a trip that has been transformed from one hour into an eight-hour journey. Fallen trees, broken power poles, and missing chunks of road block the way. Army trucks and aid convoys can barely get through. Thousands in western Jamaica remain stranded, cut off without help.
BBC reporters driving toward Black River saw horrible damage everywhere. Pieces of road were simply gone. Men were climbing on roofs, trying to fix up houses with whatever materials they could find. In Santa Cruz, the sound of generators filled the air along with the smell of gasoline and mud. Everything was covered in thick mud. Barrington Robinson, a janitor, had to hack through fallen branches with a machete just to reach his job. “Every place flooded out,” he said. “I don’t know what to do.”
Entire Villages Wiped Out
Satellite pictures show that some villages have almost been completely destroyed. Trevor Whyte from White House told the BBC that words cannot describe how bad things are. “No one is able to get through to their loved ones,” he said. “Every tree is on the road so you can’t get anywhere.”
A drive from Kingston towards Montego Bay reveals buildings with roofs ripped off and people trying to dry their soaked mattresses by the roadside. Usually, Jamaica is a very green island covered with trees, but now it just looks bare and broken.
Aid is coming from around the world.The US is sending a disaster team to help with search and rescue. The UK announced £5 million in emergency help including shelter supplies and solar lanterns for people without power. The World Food Programme is organising food and supplies across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
News At Glance
- At least 19 people were killed in Jamaica and 30 in Haiti from Hurricane Melissa
- A Category 5 storm hit with 185 mph winds destroying entire communities
- Most of Jamaica is without power or water, and food supplies are running low
- Roads were destroyed making it nearly impossible to deliver aid to western regions
- International aid begins to arrive including US disaster teams and UK emergency funding
FAQs:
Q: How bad was Hurricane Melissa?
A: It was a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest category, with winds of 185 mph. It’s one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the Caribbean.
Q: Why can’t aid reach the people who need it?
A: The roads are destroyed with fallen trees, broken power lines, and missing sections. Journeys that took one hour now take eight hours or are completely impossible.
Q: How many people died?
A: At least 19 in Jamaica and 30 in Haiti so far. Officials expect the numbers to rise as rescue teams reach more areas.
Q: What do people need most right now?
A: Food, clean water, electricity and shelter. Many haven’t had water for days and are running out of food.
Q: Is help coming?
A: Yes, aid is being sent by many countries across the world. The US is sending rescue teams; the UK has pledged supplies worth £5 million; the World Food Programme is coordinating the relief efforts.
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