Jamaica declares state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Melissa

Santo Domingo.- The Jamaican government has declared a state of emergency in all hospitals and ordered the closure of schools nationwide as Tropical Storm Melissa approaches the island, with forecasts suggesting it could reach hurricane strength over the weekend, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Health Minister Christopher Tufton announced the suspension of all elective surgeries and non-urgent hospital admissions to free up space for potential storm-related emergencies. Families of stable patients have been asked to temporarily remove them from hospitals, while 702 health professionals have been deployed across the country to strengthen emergency response efforts. The national emergency center has also been fully activated in coordination with regional health authorities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education suspended all in-person classes across public and private institutions to safeguard students and staff during the storm’s passage. According to the latest NHC report, Melissa is located 345 km southeast of Kingston and 440 km southwest of Port-au-Prince, with sustained winds of 85 km/h and moving northwest at 7 km/h. The system is expected to bring heavy rains, strong winds, and dangerous coastal surges to Jamaica, Haiti, and eastern Cuba.

In the Dominican Republic, more than 647,000 people were left without drinking water after rainfall disrupted several supply systems, while in Haiti, authorities remain on high alert for flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.