Hurricane 'Melissa' has claimed at least 19 lives in Jamaica, Information Minister Dana Morris-Dixon reported on Thursday, releasing the first official data on the deceased, LETA reported citing DPA.
As a result of Hurricane 'Melissa', 30 people also died in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. The total number of victims in the Caribbean countries has reached 50, but it is expected to rise further.
On Tuesday, the Category 5 hurricane struck Jamaica, causing severe flooding in the southwestern part of the island. Roofs were torn off buildings, trees were uprooted, and power lines were damaged. The Jamaican government declared the island a disaster zone.
Although the hurricane has already moved off land and is back over open waters, the danger is not yet over. 'Melissa' has strengthened again to a Category 2 hurricane and is moving towards the Bermuda Islands.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reported that wind speeds at the hurricane's center reach 165 kilometers per hour (46 meters per second).
