KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) says up to Monday morning it received 15 reports of fallen trees, rock falls, downed power lines and landslides across the island, with the activities resulting in blocked roads.

“We have responded and removed the impediments and reopened all but one of the roads,” said Minister of Works, Robert Morgan.

“We’re actively working to clear the one that is currently blocked which was impacted by fallen trees and I think this one is in St Ann’s Bay near the roundabout,” Morgan added. He was addressing a special media briefing at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) on Monday, to give the latest update on the Government’s preparations for Hurricane Melissa.

He urged Jamaicans who have to be outside at this time to exercise due care with rock falls being an imminent threat.

“We’ve seen this along the Little Bay main road in St Mary and there are other areas that are susceptible to this kind of situation so we urge caution,” said Morgan.

He told the briefing that the NWA has undertaken quite a bit of mitigation work as it relates to drain cleaning and the clearing of critical corridors. This includes the removal of 500 truckloads of silt and debris from the section of the Sandy Gully in the vicinity of the Spanish Town Road Bridge near Riverton City. Morgan explained that the emergency cleaning of that section of the country’s largest drain was to ensure the critical bridge was not compromised.

And, he urged Jamaicans to avoid using or approaching any road, bridge or structure that appears to be “damaged, cracked or unstable”, and to report such cases to the NWA’s emergency centre at 658-2132557-60, 876-3123991 or 876-3123987. Additionally, persons may contact ODPEM directly.