19 Killed in Jamaica Amid Hurricane

At least 19 people have been confirmed dead in Jamaica following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, according to the country’s Minister of Information, Dana Morris Dixon.

The powerful storm has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, with 30 more fatalities reported in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, bringing the total number of deaths in the region to at least 50. Officials warned that the toll could rise further as recovery efforts continue.

Although Hurricane Melissa has moved back over open waters, authorities say it is too soon to declare the danger over. 

The storm has regained strength, becoming a Category 2 hurricane as it heads toward Bermuda in the North Atlantic.

According to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, Melissa is now producing sustained winds of up to 165 kilometers per hour. The hurricane made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

Exceptionally strong winds and torrential rain triggered catastrophic storm surges and caused widespread destruction, flattening countless buildings. The Jamaican government has declared the entire island a disaster zone as rescue and recovery operations continue.