Jamaican officials have urged people to stay in their shelters due to Hurricane Melissa, which is moving towards the island in the Caribbean Sea. This has been recorded as the most destructive storm to hit the region.
Redaksiya reports that the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) stated late Monday that "Melissa" was 240 km southwest of Kingston and had maximum sustained winds of 282 km/h. The hurricane has already caused seven deaths in the Caribbean – three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, with one more person missing.
Jamaican officials reported landslides, fallen trees, and numerous power outages occurring before the hurricane reached the island. Officials also warned of a life-threatening storm surge of up to 4 meters in southern Jamaica. Officials also urged people to stay in their homes and avoid unnecessary travel. Strong winds, heavy rains, and floods could occur at any moment.
"We have done everything to evacuate, place people in our shelters, provide necessary resources, and clear our drains," a Kingston city official stated. He added that "many people have never encountered anything like this before, and the uncertainty is terrifying. There is fear of losing homes and livelihoods, injuries, and displacement." He also noted that "not all shelters are full. We have observed an increase in the number of people coming to shelters. Demand is higher in some districts than others." He also stated that "there is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5 storm, which is the strongest on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Now the question is the speed of recovery. This is the challenge." Officials reported that security forces have been properly deployed to maintain law and order during the disaster. They also emphasized the importance of protecting communities and individuals.