MORE than 70 per cent or just over 500,000 of Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers were without electricity at 3:00 pm Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa continued to batter the island.

In a late evening release, JPS noted that after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall about 12 noon Tuesday with record wind speeds of more than 180 miles per hour, several of its transmission and distribution networks islandwide were seriously impacted.

“Based on the initial information reaching us, the electrical network in central and western parishes in particular has been severely damaged,” said JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant.

“Our teams have been working diligently to avoid a total shut-down. From what we’re seeing though, sections of the grid will require a rebuild,” Grant added, reiterating a point he had made on Sunday.

While admitting that the recovery will be challenging, Grant said JPS line workers, along with local and overseas contractors, are on standby to act as soon as it is safe to do so.

Regarding the lesser impacted areas of the country Grant said the company’s intention is to request a partial all-clear from the authorities.

This hybrid approach would see assessments being carried out alongside restoration where possible, before the official all-clear is given by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.

“One of the questions our customers have always had is, why there is a lack of supply despite no visible damage in their area. Now, it is important to note that in many cases an outage can be caused by impact further afield,” said Grant.

“Bearing that in mind, we ask for patience. We have to be smart about how we work to ensure sustainable restoration while ensuring the safety of all our team members,” added Grant as he declared that there is nothing the power company wishes to do more than to have customers connected to the grid as soon as possible.

The JPS also used the release to remind Jamaicans not to venture out to sight-see in the aftermath of the hurricane and to avoid coming in contact with poles and power lines which may be energised.

That reminder came hours after the Jamaica Observer pointed to an energised power line on Rosseau Road in the vicinity of William Road in south St Andrew.

Up to just after 6:00 pm on Tuesday residents were upset that the energised wire remained on the road with no response from JPS.