Jamaica is on high alert as Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm of the year, approaches its shores. With winds so fierce they can knock people off their feet, residents and tourists alike are bracing for what experts predict will be catastrophic and life-threatening conditions. The National Hurricane Center has issued dire warnings of torrential rainfall, deadly flash flooding, and landslides. Already, the storm has claimed lives in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica and four in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for at least seven high-risk areas in the southeast, where critical infrastructure, including the international airport and power plants, is located. Power outages have left over 200,000 people without electricity, and thousands have sought refuge in government shelters. However, many are reluctant to leave their homes, opting instead to fortify them with plywood, sandbags, and tied-down shutters. Supermarkets are empty, and essentials like bread are scarce. Tourists, too, are feeling the strain, with airports closed and flights canceled, leaving many stranded. Rebecca Chapman, visiting for her 25th wedding anniversary, described the eerie quiet and the ominous roar from the sea. Tim Hookway, a British national in Montego Bay, noted the muted atmosphere, while Alex Baskeyfield, from West Yorkshire, recounted the extreme preparations at his hotel, where everything from ceiling fans to televisions has been removed. The Foreign Office has advised Britons in Jamaica to heed local authority advice, particularly regarding evacuation orders. As Hurricane Melissa makes its slow approach, the sense of impending doom is palpable, with everyone hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
‘We’re absolutely terrified’: Millions brace for Melissa’s impact in Jamaica
