Hurricane Melissa death toll in Jamaica rises to 45
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Government says the official death toll in Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa has increased to 45.
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, made the revelation at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
“The numbers have been confirmed by the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force), they have investigated and they have concluded that these deaths were associated with the hurricane, and they have done so with the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force),” Morris Dixon said.
The southwest parish of St Elizabeth accounts for the most Melissa-related deaths with 18, followed by Westmoreland with 15 fatalities.
There have also been recorded deaths in St James (6), Hanover (2), Trelawny (2), St Ann (1) and Portland (1).
She said 33 post mortems have so far been conducted on victims “and there are some that they are waiting to conduct the post mortems on.”
Regarding the deaths, she said, “Those are 45 families that are hurting deeply, as we look at that number we pray for those families, we pray that God will comfort them.”
