FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Hurricane Melissa has officially made landfall in the New Hope area of southwestern Jamaica, battering the island with winds of up to 185 miles per hour (about 297 km/h). According to authorities, this is the most powerful storm in modern history to ever hit the country's territory.
The moment of landfall occurred in the morning hours, when the "eye" of the hurricane swept the coastal area of Westmoreland, causing extensive structural damage, flash flooding and total power outages across most of the island.
Local authorities report significant damage to infrastructure, with blocked roads, collapsed bridges and dozens of buildings flattened.
Thousands of residents have been forced to abandon their homes to take shelter in emergency centers, while sea waves on the southern coast have reached 4–5 meters high, flooding coastal cities such as Savanna-la-Mar and Bluefields.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that some areas of Jamaica could experience up to 40 inches (about 1,000 mm) of rainfall within a few hours — a level that could cause catastrophic landslides and flash flooding in mountainous areas.
The International Red Cross has said that up to 1.5 million people could be directly affected by the storm, calling the situation an “emerging humanitarian crisis.” The organization has deployed emergency teams and aid reserves in Kingston and Montego Bay for immediate distribution as soon as weather conditions allow.
The Jamaican government has declared a national state of emergency as emergency services battle extreme weather to evacuate stranded citizens. More than 500 public shelters have been opened across the country, while the military and police forces have been deployed to maintain order and assist in rescue operations.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared that the country is facing "one of the most difficult moments in Jamaica's modern history," calling for calm and cooperation among citizens.
Lini një Përgjigje