The death toll from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica has climbed to 28, Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed Friday, as rescue operations continue across the island’s hardest-hit regions.

The Category 5 hurricane struck Jamaica earlier this week with winds exceeding 160 mph (260 km/h), triggering flash floods and landslides that devastated communities especially in St. Elizabeth Parish, where the town of Black River saw up to 90% of its buildings damaged.

More than 460,000 homes and businesses remain without power, and several communities are still cut off by debris and flooding. Relief teams are delivering food, water, and medical aid by air as damage assessments continue.

Across the Caribbean, over 50 people have died from the storm’s impact, including 31 in Haiti, while Cuba reported extensive damage but no fatalities.

Officials warn that Jamaica’s death toll could rise further as searches continue. Meteorologists say Melissa’s strength highlights a worrying trend of more intense hurricanes fueled by warming oceans. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.