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The death toll from Hurricane Melissa continues to rise in the Caribbean, with at least 31 fatalities in Haiti and 19 in Jamaica.
The Civil Protection Directorate (DPC) of Haiti reported this Friday that the passage of Hurricane Melissa has caused flooding and landslides that have resulted in at least 31 fatalities, 21 missing persons, and 20 injuries in various regions of the country, as cited by the EFE agency.
The most affected area is Pétit-Goâve, south of Port-au-Prince, where 23 deaths have been confirmed, including ten children, due to the rising waters of the La Digue river. Local rescue teams are continuing the search efforts among the rubble and flooded areas, under extremely difficult conditions.
"The situation is very serious. The river has overflowed, sweeping away entire houses and leaving hundreds of families without shelter," stated a spokesperson for the DPC in remarks to local media. North of Port-au-Prince, a person was found lifeless in the sea after being swept away by the strong currents.
The Haitian government has declared a national state of emergency and has requested international support to assist the most affected populations, where thousands of people are displaced and basic services remain in collapse.
In Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa also left a devastating scene. The Minister of Information, Dana Morris Dixon, reported that so far there have been 19 confirmed fatalities and dozens of missing persons, following the cyclone's passage through the southwest of the island, where it hit as a Category 5 hurricane.
Rescue teams have recovered eight bodies in Saint Elizabeth, nine in Westmoreland, and two in Saint James, one of whom was a child, as detailed by the minister. Authorities fear that the number of victims may rise as access is gained to still-isolated rural areas.
"We are facing one of the worst natural disasters in our recent history," declared Dixon. "Rescue efforts are still underway, and we are grateful for the international solidarity we are receiving."
The hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a category 5 cyclone, with sustained winds of up to 295 km/h, and subsequently struck eastern Cuba, where it also caused severe material damage, power outages, and widespread flooding.
The scale of destruction in the Caribbean has been described by international organizations as "an unfolding humanitarian crisis." The United Nations, UNICEF, and the Red Cross have announced the dispatch of emergency aid to the most affected areas.
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