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communities throughout the north Caribbean Are struggling with the devastating consequences of Hurricane Melissa, The death toll from the devastating storm is continuously increasing.
in the south east JamaicaThe hum of heavy machinery, chainsaws and knives fills the air.
Government workers and residents are clearing roads to reach isolated communities that have been hit directly by one of the most powerful atlantic Storm on record.
Stunned residents wandered among the debris, many staring at their roofless homes and belongings submerged in water.
“Now I don’t have a home,” lamented Sylvester Guthrie, a distraught resident of Lacovia in St. Elizabeths, clutching his bicycle – his only possession left after the storm.
“I have land elsewhere that I can rebuild on, but I will need help,” the sweeper requested.
Emergency relief flights have started landing JamaicaThe main international airport, which reopened late Wednesday night. Workers are now distributing water, food and other basic supplies to people in need.
Jamaica’s Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said, “The devastation is enormous.”
Some Jamaicans wondered where they would live.
“I’m homeless now, but I have to stay hopeful because I have a life,” said Sheryl Smith, who lost the roof of her home.
Authorities said they found at least four bodies in southwestern Jamaica.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said up to 90 percent of roofs were destroyed in the south-west coastal community of Black River.
“Black River is what you would describe as ground zero,” he said. “The People “We are still being hit by destruction.”
more than 25,000 People Shelters in the western part of Jamaica remained crowded, with 77 percent of the island without electricity.
Melissa also caused devastating floods haitiWhere at least 25 people are reported dead and 18 others are missing, most of whom were in the southern region of the country.
Steven Guardard, who lives in Petit-Goave, said Melissa killed his entire family.
“I had four children at home: a 1-month-old, a 7-year-old, an 8-year-old and another who was about to turn 4,” he said.
haitiCivil Defense Agency of Said Hurricane Melissa killed at least 20 people in Petit-Goave, including 10 children. It also damaged more than 160 houses and destroyed 80 others.
Authorities warned that 152 disabled people haitiThe southern region needs emergency food aid. More than 11,600 people are taking shelter in Haiti due to the storm.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, people began clearing blocked roads and highways with heavy equipment and even enlisted the help of the military, which rescued people trapped in isolated communities and at risk of landslides.
No deaths were reported after civil defense evacuated more than 735,000 people from eastern Cuba. They slowly started returning home.
“We are cleaning the streets, clearing the way,” said Yaima Almenares, a physical education teacher in the city. santiagoWhile he and other neighbors were clearing branches and debris from sidewalks and streets, cutting down fallen tree trunks and clearing away accumulated trash.
in more rural areas outside the city santiago de cubaWater accumulated in vulnerable homes Wednesday night as residents returned from their shelters to rescue beds, mattresses, chairs, tables and fans that they had piled high before the storm.
A televised civil defense meeting chaired by President Miguel Diaz-Canel did not provide an official estimate of the damage.
However, officials in the affected provinces – santiagoGranma, Holguín, Guantanamo and Las Tunas – reported damage to roofs, power lines, fiber optic telecommunications cables, cut roads, isolated communities and banana, cassava and coffee plantations.
Officials said the rain was beneficial to reservoirs and to alleviating a severe drought in eastern Cuba.
Many communities are still without electricity, internet and telephone service due to downed transformers and power lines.
When Melissa struck the coast of Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 185 mph (295 kph), it set a record for strength. atlantic In both wind speed and barometric pressure, the storm is making landfall. It was still a Category 3 hurricane when it re-entered eastern Cuba early Wednesday.
Hurricane warnings for the Southeast and Central remained in effect until late Wednesday night. Bahamas and for bermuda,
Storm conditions are expected to persist overnight in the southeastern part BahamasFrom where dozens of people have been evacuated.
According to the US, Melissa was a Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of up to 100 mph (155 kph) late Wednesday and was moving north-northeast at 21 mph (33 kph). National Hurricane Center In miami,
The hurricane was centered about 105 miles (170 kilometers) east-northeast and about 800 miles (1,285 kilometers) southwest of the central Bahamas. bermuda,
Melissa was forecast to pass near or west of Bermuda late Thursday and may strengthen further before weakening.