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More than 25,000 Jamaicans were housed in shelters across the country on Wednesday, as residents cope with the strongest storm in the country’s recorded history. Seventy-five patients were transported to safety from the Black River Hospital, which experienced power outages. Just over 77% of the country was without power as of late Tuesday, according to the Jamaica Observer, a local media outlet, as the Jamaica Public Service Company, the country’s sole electricity distributor, experienced difficulties due to the storm. The government of Jamaica has launched its own recovery website to assist with recovery efforts. Read more: Why Are We Seeing More Category 5 Hurricanes? Melissa also wreaked havoc in Montego Bay, St. James, a major tourist destination, devastating a popular restaurant known as Pier One. At least 20 people were killed in the southern Haitian town of Petit-Goâve when the banks of the La Digue River burst due to flash flooding, causing dozens of homes to collapse. Some victims were buried under rubble as of Wednesday morning. Eighteen other people in the country remain missing, Haitian officials told the AP.
