Five days after Hurricane Melissa pummelled into western Jamaica with record force, residents in devastated communities along the coast are still desperately waiting for help. Many of the roads are blocked by debris and people are isolated with little food, no power or running water, and no idea of when normalcy will return.
The government said on Saturday that at least 28 people in Jamaica have died since the hurricane hit as a monster category five storm with 185 mph (297km/h) sustained winds. That is a near 50% jump in the death toll overnight, and the number could rise as officials clear their way into new parts of the island in the coming days.
Local official Dr Dayton Campbell told the BBC 10 of those deaths were in Westmoreland. Westmoreland parish is believed to have the second highest number of unconfirmed deaths, after St Elizabeth to the southeast. The eye of the storm hit somewhere between the two neighboring parishes. At St Elizabeth, an estimated 90% of homes have been destroyed.
A long stretch of road headed west into Westmoreland Parish winds through a graveyard of trees – stacks of branches and limbs, cracked and twisted, blanketing the landscape for miles. It is grim evidence of Hurricane Melissa's ferocity - it was the strongest storm to strike the Caribbean island in modern history.
Piles of debris are heaped on the parish's roadsides, next to battered buildings, shipping crates turned on their side, and crowds of people wading through the destruction.
Those living in Whitehouse say the wait for assistance is becoming frustrating. Gary Williams, who lost his house in the storm, expressed uncertainty about where he will sleep, stating he might have to settle outside on the porch of a barely standing building. Words can't explain the situation that we're in. It's horrible, another resident lamented.
Despite the chaos, there is also a lingering resilience among the locals. Oreth Jones, a farmer, remains hopeful even as he sells the last of his produce. Can't give up. Not gonna give up, he insists, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the community.
As foreign aid begins to trickle into Jamaica, including support from the US and UK, the immediate focus remains on clearing debris and restoring essential services. Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the importance of providing food and medical supplies, but acknowledged that the road to recovery would be long and arduous.
The government said on Saturday that at least 28 people in Jamaica have died since the hurricane hit as a monster category five storm with 185 mph (297km/h) sustained winds. That is a near 50% jump in the death toll overnight, and the number could rise as officials clear their way into new parts of the island in the coming days.
Local official Dr Dayton Campbell told the BBC 10 of those deaths were in Westmoreland. Westmoreland parish is believed to have the second highest number of unconfirmed deaths, after St Elizabeth to the southeast. The eye of the storm hit somewhere between the two neighboring parishes. At St Elizabeth, an estimated 90% of homes have been destroyed.
A long stretch of road headed west into Westmoreland Parish winds through a graveyard of trees – stacks of branches and limbs, cracked and twisted, blanketing the landscape for miles. It is grim evidence of Hurricane Melissa's ferocity - it was the strongest storm to strike the Caribbean island in modern history.
Piles of debris are heaped on the parish's roadsides, next to battered buildings, shipping crates turned on their side, and crowds of people wading through the destruction.
Those living in Whitehouse say the wait for assistance is becoming frustrating. Gary Williams, who lost his house in the storm, expressed uncertainty about where he will sleep, stating he might have to settle outside on the porch of a barely standing building. Words can't explain the situation that we're in. It's horrible, another resident lamented.
Despite the chaos, there is also a lingering resilience among the locals. Oreth Jones, a farmer, remains hopeful even as he sells the last of his produce. Can't give up. Not gonna give up, he insists, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the community.
As foreign aid begins to trickle into Jamaica, including support from the US and UK, the immediate focus remains on clearing debris and restoring essential services. Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the importance of providing food and medical supplies, but acknowledged that the road to recovery would be long and arduous.
