Death Toll in Jamaica Rises to 19 After Hurricane Melissa; U.S. Sends Helicopters for Aid

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit Jamaica, made landfall on October 29, 2025, tearing up trees, destroying power lines, and flooding communities. At least 19 people in Jamaica have been confirmed dead, and officials warn that the death toll is expected to rise.

Jamaica’s Information Minister, Sen. Dana Morris Dixon, said Friday that there are credible reports of additional bodies—four in Westmoreland and one in St. Elizabeth Parish—but these will only be officially counted once police recover and confirm them.

“Every single life lost is a tragedy,” Dixon said. “It’s especially hard when all around you is devastation.”

Across the Caribbean, the death toll from Hurricane Melissa could exceed 50, including at least 30 deaths in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, torrential rains caused rivers to overflow, killing at least 23 people, including 10 children in Petit-Goâve.

Aid and Relief Efforts Underway

Despite major communication outages and widespread damage, relief efforts are intensifying:

U.S. Support: The United States Southern Command has deployed three CH-47 Chinook helicopters, with up to 10 more expected, to assist with evacuations, medical transport, and delivering supplies to hard-hit areas.
Jamaican Authorities: Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the helicopters’ large capacity will help reach isolated communities. He assured survivors, “You are not forgotten, and you will never be forgotten.”
Airports & Communication: Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport will reopen for commercial flights at 7 a.m. Saturday, allowing tourists to leave and more aid to enter. The government is also working to restore communication, including deploying Starlink internet to police stations.

International Assistance and Financial Support

The World Bank announced it is partnering with Jamaica, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other agencies to conduct a rapid damage assessment and coordinate recovery efforts. The Bank praised Jamaica’s advanced disaster financing system and confirmed that:

Emergency funds, catastrophe bond resources, and private-sector support are ready to be deployed.
Technical assistance will be provided to ensure rebuilding efforts strengthen long-term resilience.

Additionally, international relief groups—including Mercy Corps and Haiti Air Ambulance—are working with the Jamaica Defense Force to provide air ambulance services, medical assistance, and supplies.