Jamaica declared a “disaster area”

Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, has declared his country a ‘disaster area’ as it reels from the effect of Hurricane Melissa.

The monster Category 5 hurricane caused widespread damage and catastrophic flooding in many parts of the island after it made landfall on the southern coast last Tuesday morning before exiting near the town of Trelawny on the north coast.

The decision by Holness came following advice from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie.

McKenzie reported widespread flooding, several serious landslides, and severe infrastructural damage across portions of Jamaica including  Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth and Westmorland.

He said by late Tuesday many communities remain cut off and roads are impassable.

On the current track, the eye of Melissa is expected to move away from western Jamaica on Tuesday evening and move over southeastern Cuba later Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.