Five days after Hurricane Melissa pummelled into western Jamaica with record force, residents in devastated communities along the coast are still desperately waiting for help. Many of the roads are blocked by debris and people are isolated with little food, no power or running water, and no idea of when normalcy will return.
The government said on Saturday that at least 28 people in Jamaica have died since the hurricane hit as a monster category five storm with 185 mph (297km/h) sustained winds. That is a near 50% jump in the death toll overnight, and the number could rise as officials clear their way into new parts of the island in the coming days.
Local official Dr Dayton Campbell told the BBC 10 of those deaths were in Westmoreland, which is believed to have the second highest number of unconfirmed deaths, after St Elizabeth to the southeast. The eye of the storm hit somewhere between the two neighboring parishes, with St Elizabeth suffering an estimated 90% of homes destroyed.
A long stretch of road headed west into Westmoreland Parish winds through a graveyard of trees – stacks of branches and limbs, cracked and twisted, blanketing the landscape for miles. On Saturday morning, men with machetes hacked through thick branches, clearing patches of the road where traffic jams were at a standstill. A policeman with an automatic weapon hopped out of his vehicle to help direct traffic, describing the scene as 'total devastation'.
People in Whitehouse, a coastal town and commercial hub of Westmoreland, express frustration over the slow arrival of promised assistance. Gary Williams lamented the lack of timely aid and expressed concern over where he might sleep following the loss of his home.
Reports indicate that nearly 400,000 people are without power, alongside ongoing communication difficulties due to lost cell phone service and internet access. In response, Jamaica's transport minister announced the deployment of over 200 StarLink devices to restore some internet connectivity. As efforts to deliver food and medical supplies are ramping up, Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the focus should be on clearing debris and restoring essential services.
With foreign assistance now beginning to flow in, including contributions from the US and UK, residents like Robert Morris and farmer Oreth Jones are determined to push through. Despite the overwhelming challenges posed by the hurricane's destructive force, the community remains steadfast, rallying around hope, resilience, and faith in recovery as they await the help they so urgently need.
The government said on Saturday that at least 28 people in Jamaica have died since the hurricane hit as a monster category five storm with 185 mph (297km/h) sustained winds. That is a near 50% jump in the death toll overnight, and the number could rise as officials clear their way into new parts of the island in the coming days.
Local official Dr Dayton Campbell told the BBC 10 of those deaths were in Westmoreland, which is believed to have the second highest number of unconfirmed deaths, after St Elizabeth to the southeast. The eye of the storm hit somewhere between the two neighboring parishes, with St Elizabeth suffering an estimated 90% of homes destroyed.
A long stretch of road headed west into Westmoreland Parish winds through a graveyard of trees – stacks of branches and limbs, cracked and twisted, blanketing the landscape for miles. On Saturday morning, men with machetes hacked through thick branches, clearing patches of the road where traffic jams were at a standstill. A policeman with an automatic weapon hopped out of his vehicle to help direct traffic, describing the scene as 'total devastation'.
People in Whitehouse, a coastal town and commercial hub of Westmoreland, express frustration over the slow arrival of promised assistance. Gary Williams lamented the lack of timely aid and expressed concern over where he might sleep following the loss of his home.
Reports indicate that nearly 400,000 people are without power, alongside ongoing communication difficulties due to lost cell phone service and internet access. In response, Jamaica's transport minister announced the deployment of over 200 StarLink devices to restore some internet connectivity. As efforts to deliver food and medical supplies are ramping up, Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the focus should be on clearing debris and restoring essential services.
With foreign assistance now beginning to flow in, including contributions from the US and UK, residents like Robert Morris and farmer Oreth Jones are determined to push through. Despite the overwhelming challenges posed by the hurricane's destructive force, the community remains steadfast, rallying around hope, resilience, and faith in recovery as they await the help they so urgently need.
