KINGSTON, Jamaica — Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says all Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus services have been terminated with the company now in emergency response mode to evacuate Jamaicans in flood-prone areas.

“Regular services are suspended until it is safe to operate. JUTC is in emergency response mode with teams on standby for evacuation at Rockford, Spanish Town, Portmore and all five rural school bus regions,” Vaz said during a press conference on Monday.

He noted that JUTC has been responding to several calls for evacuation since Saturday, with some 148 individuals evacuated so far.

He, however, stressed that the evacuation figures are way below what is required for a category five hurricane.

“Only one person in Port Royal, 42 in Tower Street, Rae Town, 15 in Rocky Point, Portland Cottage and Parity and Sandy Bay, 55,” Vaz said.

He appealed to Jamaicans living in flood-prone areas not to ignore the hurricane warnings issued by the Meteorological Service of Jamaica.

“There is going to be massive flooding as a result of the surf that is going to require persons to relocate from their existing locations. So again, I can only add to the call but [I] advise you to listen to the Government and listen or should I say if you don’t want to listen to the Government, listen to Evan [Thompson],” he said.

The rural school bus system has also been activated in rural Jamaica to transport Jamaicans to hurricane shelters.

“We have over 60 school buses that are in all parishes, across all parishes, so those will be utilised save and except for the fact that because of how they are designed and their weight in muddy conditions, they will tend to sink and that is obviously because of the safety standards put in for the safety of the children but we’ll have to find a way to utilise them as best as possible,” Vaz said.

Meanwhile, the transport minister said airports will remain closed until the hurricane passes.

Toll booths are also now open.