Authorities on Monday announced that the death toll from Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean has increased to 67 so far, and tens of billions of dollars of overall damage throughout the islands.
The hurricane, which was a Category 5 when it hit Jamaica last week, is the strongest to hit the island nation since records were first kept 174 years ago. It also made landfall in Haiti and Cuba.
Jamaica Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon told reporters that the death toll on his island is now 32. The number comes as 34 are reported dead in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, NBC News reported.
“All of Jamaica is going through this period of mourning and this period of pain,” Dixon said.
As of Monday, approximately 50% of homes and businesses were without power, down from 77% last week. Hugh Grant, president and CEO of Jamaica Public Service Company, said that his company is working to return power to more residents.Â
The United States State Department deployed emergency teams to assist with search-and-rescue efforts last week.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.Â
