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#MelissaAftermath: McKenzie confirms four deaths in St Elizabeth
– Govt. gives ‘all-clear’ to commence restoration efforts
(Jamaica Observer) Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, has confirmed that four people have died in St Elizabeth as a result of the heavy winds and rain brought by Hurricane Melissa.
Total devastation’: Hurricane Melissa leaves trail of destruction, flooding in Jamaica.
Earlier, Superintendent Coleidge Minto had revealed that two bodies were discovered in Black River, St Elizabeth. But a later announcement from Minister McKenzie increased the death toll in St Elizabeth to four.
The deceased are three men and one woman, who are all believed to have been washed away by floodwaters generated by the storm.
“They were discovered after being washed up by the flood waters generated by the hurricane,” the minister said.
“These persons are, by all indications, direct victims of the hurricane, and I am hoping that there will be no more fatalities,” he added. “Let us all be careful and do all we can to ensure that no more lives are lost,” he said.
The minister also urged continued caution, noting that a flash flood watch remains in effect for the island, with the Meteorological Service forecasting an additional three to six inches of rainfall across Jamaica.
The Government of Jamaica has meanwhile issued an “all-clear” following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. This means that all utility companies should commence restoration and recovery operations across the island.
The update was provided by Information Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon during a media conference on Wednesday.
“Crews from the JPS (Jamaica Public Service), NWC (National Water Commission), NWA (National Works Agency), and also our telecommunications companies and other critical services have now and will be advised to mobilise immediately to restore electricity, water and communication networks,” Morris Dixon said.
She continued, “We are also asking and encouraging entities like our supermarkets, our wholesales and gas stations and pharmacies, particularly in those areas that have been less affected, we are asking you to open and allow communitities to have access to these essential goods and services.”
Morris Dixon reminded Jamaicans to exercise caution on the road especially where there are downed powerlines, debris and flooding.
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Wednesday surveyed the damage done to the country due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
He visited the most impacted parishes including Manchester, Westmoreland and St James as conditions allowed.
Telecommunications and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz is also conducting assessments with the country’s electricity provider, the Jamaica Public Service Company, and examining the extent of damage to the airports.
“As soon as they come back, we’ll be able to give you information and better guidance in relation to the damage,” Morris Dixon said.
She added, “In terms of schools…we are still getting the assessments from schools. We know there is significant damage in western Jamaica. We will get those details as soon as we can.”
Disaster!
The devastation left by the first hurricane to form in the Caribbean this year resulted in Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness declaring Jamaica a disaster area under the Disaster Risk Management Act.
Additionally, the government issued the Trade (Sale of Goods During Period of Declaration of Threatened Area) (Tropical Storm Melissa) Order, 2025. Both took effect on Tuesday and “give the Government the tools to continue managing its response to Hurricane Melissa,” Holness said.
Melissa was the worst hurricane to ever strike Jamaica with maximum wind speeds clocking 185 miles (300 kilometres) per hour.
Even as wind speeds dipped to 150 miles per hour, Melissa drenched communities and wreaked damage that may take days to assess as communication links remained largely down.
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