Melissa leaves death and destruction

Nearly a dozen deaths have been linked to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, three of which are said to have occurred before the storm's passage on Tuesday.

Four deaths were confirmed by the Government yesterday, while Member of Parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Eastern, Dr Dayton Campbell, said another four have occurred in his constituency. In St Elizabeth, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, confirmed that four people--three men and one woman--were killed after being swept away by floodwaters.

"They were discovered after being washed up by the flood waters generated by the Hurricane. These persons are, by all indications, direct victims of the Hurricane, and I am hoping that there will be no more fatalities," McKenzie said. He described the loss of lives as "a deeply regrettable development" and urged to the families and friends of the victims on behalf of the Government.

Meanwhile, Campbell has described conditions in his constituency as "horrific," after Melissa made landfall in New Hope, cutting off entire districts and leaving residents trapped with no way to reach help.

"The reason you're not seeing it is because the people have no connection and the roads are impassable," Campbell said. Campbell said that woman perished at an emergency shelter at Chantilly Primary after it collapsed. He said that one body is in Lower Darliston, two in Lennox Bigwoods, and one in Holly Hill.

"We need help," said the MP, adding that the dangerous category 5 hurricane created "mayhem" across the constituency.

Many persons have warned that the number of deceased could increase whenever the authorities are able to gain access to many areas that are now cut off. Across Jamaica, entire neighbourhoods remain under water, power is out for tens of thousands, and countless families are clinging to hope amid the wreckage. Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton had reported that three persons had died and 13 were injured while making last-minute preparations for the storm.

"Most injuries were linked to persons falling from ladders or rooftops," he revealed.