Britons have been warned against travelling to the popular holiday destination of Jamaica, as the island nation is braced for the landfall of a deadly tropical storm.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been sent in Port Royal in the capital Kingston, and six other areas, as Government ministers warn “many communities will not survive”.
Storm Melissa, a hurricane feared to reach the highest category five when it lands this evening or Tuesday morning, is expected to bring catastrophic floods, landslides, and storm surges according to the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC).
The looming storm has already caused the death of at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains unaccounted for.
After Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s evacuation order, Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie issued a chilling warning: “Many of these communities will not survive this flooding.”
“Kingston is low, extremely low... No community in Kingston is immune from flooding,” he said.
Jamaica's information minister, Dana Morris Dixon, was similarly grave as she announced: "We've heard the rainfall numbers. They're numbers we've never heard before.”
She also announced that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and international partners were poised to provide aid.
Britons have been issued a travel warning as Jamaica braces for the deadly Storm Melissa
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The Jamaican Government is urging those in affected areas to evacuate to one of the 900 shelters in place across the island.
Storm Melissa has seen terrifying wind speeds of 140 miles per hour, with higher speeds expected when it hits the tropical paradise.
The NHC has warned that Melissa could bring more than a meter (40ins) of rain to Jamaica and Cuba.
Waves are expected to reach four meters high (13ft) as sea levels rise over previously idyllic beaches.
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The hurricaine risks bringing 'catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides'
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They suggest this could cause devastating damage to infrastructure, outages of power and communication, and the cutting off of more remote communities in Jamaica.
"A multi-day period of damaging winds and heavy rainfall has begun and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides," the meteorological agency said.
They added that "preparations should be rushed to completion" in light of the approaching storm.
The British Foreign Office has echoed the warnings of the US NHC, adding that: “Catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely.”
Evacuation orders are in effect across the island as government ministers warn that 'many communities will not survive'
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Both of Jamaica’s international airports have now been closed.
Prime Minister Holness said: "I know that there are many Jamaicans who are anxious, who are very concerned, and rightfully so: you should be concerned.
"But the best way to address anxiety and any nervousness and concern is to be prepared,” he assured.
Jamaica remains a popular destination for British holidaymakers, with a 14 per cent increase in travellers in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Britons also make up the third-largest source of tourists to the island nation.
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