KINGSTON, Jamaica –  Disaster response officials in Jamaica are assessing widespread destruction after Hurricane Melissa tore across the island on Tuesday, leaving at least four people dead, tens of thousands displaced, and much of the country without power.

Residents in western Jamaica woke Wednesday to scenes of devastation with their homes buried in mud, vehicles submerged, and roads transformed into rivers of debris. Power was cut to more than half a million people, with the national utility reporting that 77 per cent of the country remained without electricity as of Wednesday morning.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, who toured parts of St Elizabeth on Wednesday, described the aftermath as “destruction all around.” “It is going to be a massive task to rebuild Black River,” he said, noting that the Category Five storm ravaged the parish after making landfall around noon on Tuesday.

Member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth Floyd Green reported that over 90 per cent of houses in Black River were damaged, including several historic buildings. Black River Mayor Richard Solomon said relief supplies stored locally were also destroyed, leaving the parish council struggling to respond.

Four bodies were discovered in a river in St Elizabeth, one of the hardest-hit agricultural communities. The bodies remain unretrieved amid flooding and fallen trees that have made large sections impassable, according to MP Dayton Campbell.

Across the country, the impact has been severe. Trelawny suffered extensive damage; parts of Falmouth Hospital were compromised, and debris was scattered throughout Harbour Lane in Falmouth Square.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed that both Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and Ian Fleming International Airport in St Mary are expected to reopen for relief flights at 4:00 p.m. today, as recovery operations intensify.

The Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, said more than 25,000 Jamaicans are now staying in emergency shelters. “We are assessing how to deal with the numbers on a long-term basis,” McKenzie told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Wellness announced that all but three hospitals remain open and are operating in emergency mode, while all health centres are closed.

“Hospitals continue to provide critical and life-saving care only,” the ministry said, citing widespread power and infrastructure challenges.

The ministry also appealed for urgent blood donations, as the National Blood Transfusion Service warned that the hurricane had severely disrupted collection drives and distribution of blood to hospitals.