Hurricane Melissa kills 7 in Jamaica; eye passes over island
by Danielle Haynes & Darryl Coote & Lisa Hornung · UPIOct. 28 (UPI) -- At least seven people were confirmed dead in the Caribbean on Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa, the world's strongest storm so far this year, made landfall in Jamaica, officials said.
The eye of the storm passed directly over western Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after the storm made landfall. Passing over land and the western mountains of Jamaica weakened the storm to a Category 3 hurricane, as it now takes aim at Cuba.
The National Hurricane Center had warned residents ahead of landfall to take shelter. Swells generated by Melissa were forecast to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba and the Cayman Islands over the next day or two, likely causing life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions.
The South East Regional Health Authority in Jamaica told residents in a statement to watch out for displaced crocodiles in the area.
"Rising water levels in rivers, gullies, and swamps could cause crocodiles to move into residential areas in search of dry ground," the statement said.
The hurricane is ranked as the strongest landfall, with winds of 185 mph, tied with the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019. It also has the second-highest wind speed recorded for an Atlantic hurricane. Hurricane Allen of 1980 had stronger winds at 190 mph.
Four of the deaths were on the island of Hispaniola, which comprises the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, The Guardian reported.
Jamaica's Health and Wellness minister, Christopher Tufton, reported the three storm-related deaths Monday night in a recorded statement.
"I'm very sad to say that over the past few days in preparation for the storm we have had three deaths," he said. The three deaths were connected to the cutting down of trees, with one also involving electrocution, he said.
"This is really tragic, and our condolences goes out to the family members and where we can provide support as a health team, we have and we will."
Nearly 15 others have been injured amid preparations for the storm, Tufton added, saying most injuries involved falls. One resulted from a car crash.
The ministry has urged the public to exercise caution when climbing roofs, securing sandbags and cutting trees.
"Even minor mistakes during hurricane conditions can result in serious injury or death," the ministry said in a statement.
The island nation was battered by heavy rains and strong winds ahead of landfall. Islanders were urged to take shelter. There have been reports of downed trees across St. Elizabeth parish and flooding in the Treasure Beach, Black River, Clarendon, Negril and Aenon Town areas.
Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie said in a press conference that as of 4 p.m. local time Tuesday, more than 530,000 Jamaicans, representing 77% of energy company JPS customers, were without power.
He added that 15,000 people had sought shelter, up from the 972 reported by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Monday. More than 800 shelters had been opened.
As the storm passed, Holness said he had declared Jamaica a disaster area in order to prevent price gouging.
Cuba has also evacuated more than 500,000 people from areas vulnerable to flooding and high winds.
Democrats on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee have called on the State Department to deploy disaster relief assistance to Jamaica and coordinate with local, regional and international partners to address the effects of the storm when they hit the island nation.
"The United States shares deep and enduring ties with Jamaica; over a million Jamaican Americans are watching anxiously as their loved ones brace for catastrophe. The United States must stand with Jamaica and the entire Caribbean before, during and after Hurricane Melissa makes landfall," Reps. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., ranking member of the committee, and Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., said in a statement.