The death toll from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica has risen to 45. 15 people remain missing, the local authorities announced on Tuesday, as quoted by the AP agency. According to her, the dead may still increase, because the rescuers are still unable to reach the two communities, which are cut off from the world. TASR informs about it. One of the strongest recorded hurricanes in the Caribbean region hit Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas at the end of October. It claimed at least 43 lives in Haiti.
More than 54,000 people still cannot return to their homes in Cuba, the Deputy Spokesperson of the UN Secretary General said on Tuesday. According to him, the number of damaged houses on the island rose from 60,000 to 90,000. while the number of affected healthcare facilities increased from 460 to more than 600.
Helicopters are dropping food and other basic necessities into two cut-off communities in Jamaicasaid Alvin Gayle, director general of the local emergency management office, according to AP. According to him, the element displaced 30,000 households, 1,100 people still live in 88 emergency shelters. In addition, nearly 30 roads are blocked while rescuers continue to clear the debris.
Authorities in Jamaica managed to restore electricity supplies to more than 60 percent of consumers. About half of the people have mobile service again and more than two-thirds have access to water. “Considering the extent of the damage, this is a significant milestone,” stated the president of the Jamaican energy company, Hugh Grant. According to him, the supply of electricity was also restored to the international airport in the city of Montego Bay on Tuesday.
Humanitarian aid is pouring in these days to the affected Caribbean islands. On Monday, the US announced additional funds of ten million dollars for Jamaica and another 2.5 million dollars for Haiti. In total, the countries were promised almost 37 million dollars.
