30 killed in Caribbean storm ‘Melissa’

‘Melissa’ has become one of the most powerful hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane, packing winds of 250 kilometers per hour, has hit the Caribbean. At least 30 people have been killed.
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), it is a powerful Category-5 storm, causing strong waves and flooding and inundating many areas. The hurricane has isolated hundreds of rural areas, caused widespread destruction in Jamaica and killed at least 30 people in Haiti.
Jamaica has been the hardest hit. The country’s government said that power and communication systems have been severely damaged. Emergency relief operations have already begun and an online portal has been opened to help those affected. Meteorologists fear that Jamaica is at risk of severe landslides and flooding, which could cause a greater humanitarian disaster.
The powerful storm has been classified as a Category 5. It is the strongest storm to hit Jamaica in 174 years. It is also being described as the deadliest storm in a century.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the impact of the hurricane as “terrible”. He noted that the country does not have the infrastructure to deal with Melissa. Therefore, he urged residents to be vigilant.
The extent of the damage from Melissa in Jamaica is still unclear. Rescue efforts have not yet begun in full swing. Many people are homeless. Many are missing. About 25,000 tourists were in Jamaica when Melissa hit.
The United Nations plans to send about 2,000 relief items to Jamaica from a relief camp in Barbados once air traffic returns to normal. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that assistance is planned for all countries that may be affected, including Cuba and Haiti.
The storm has already begun to affect neighboring Cuba. People are being evacuated from the country’s coastal areas and the highest alert has been issued. Weather forecasts say that ‘Melissa’ will hit the Cuban mainland by early Wednesday morning.
Meteorologists believe that Melissa has gained extra strength due to unusually high sea temperatures caused by climate change. According to them, it signals a dire humanitarian crisis not only for Jamaica, but for the entire Caribbean region.
Although it did not make a direct hit, days of heavy rain have caused widespread damage in Haiti. At least 25 people have died after the overflowing river in the coastal town of Petit-Gove, located about 64 kilometers west of the capital. According to the country’s disaster management agency, at least 10 children are among the dead and 12 are missing.
The Cuban government has evacuated more than 700,000 people to safer places. On the other hand, the government of the Bahamas has evacuated about 1,500 people. So far, about 30 deaths have been confirmed. More than 1,000 homes across the country have been flooded and around 12,000 people have taken refuge in emergency shelters.

Sources: BBC, Reuters