Melissa death toll climbs to 45

The Government is reporting that the death toll from Category 5 Hurricane Melissa is now at 45.

Nine additional deaths are under investigation and 15 persons are reported as missing.

The highest number of deaths were recorded in St Elizabeth with 18 fatalities, followed by Westmoreland with 15.

Six deaths were recorded in St James, two each in Hanover and Trelawny, and one each in St Ann and Portland.

Information Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon, addressing a press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday, said 33 post-mortems have been conducted to date.

"Those are 45 families that are hurting deeply. Really, really hurting, and so, as we look at that number, we pray for those families," Morris Dixon said.

"We pray that God will comfort them. It's a hard time to deal with the death of a family member, plus be dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane. I ask all of Jamaica to please pray for these families as they traverse this very, very, very difficult time," she urged.

"I ask all of Jamaica to please pray for these families as they traverse this very, very, very difficult time," she said.

Melissa, the most powerful storm to have made landfall in Jamaica since record-keeping began 174 years ago, has claimed as many lives as Hurricane Gilbert, which slammed the country as a Category 3 storm in 1988. At least 45 people lost their lives then, while Hurricane Ivan in 2004 caused 31 deaths--17 direct and 14 indirect.

Hurricane Charlie, which struck in 1951, was blamed for approximately 154 deaths in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Commander Alvin Gayle, director general of the Office of Disaster Prepardness and Emergency Management, said more than 130 buildings sustained some level of damage from the storm. He said the damage range from partial roof loss to complete collapse.

"Some 30,000 households have been displaced," he said.

As at press time yesterday, two communities, Petersville in Westmoreland and Duckets in St James, were marooned. Additionally, rising water still continues to affect the communities of Content district, Comfort and Evergreen in Manchester, and Brighton in St Elizabeth.