(DDM) — Severe devastation has been reported across Trelawny Parish following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, with major roadways, including the busy Martha Brae to Falmouth route, covered in thick mud, uprooted trees, fallen utility poles, and collapsed structures.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the once-vibrant coastal road now lies in ruins, as residents woke up to scenes of destruction that have left many communities cut off and several homes uninhabitable.
Heavy rains from Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall as a Category 5 storm earlier in the week, triggered widespread flooding and landslides, sending torrents of water through residential and commercial areas.
Motorists and pedestrians were stranded for hours as debris blocked access routes, forcing emergency responders to work around the clock to clear fallen trees and restore limited movement.
“We have not seen anything like this in years,” said Clive Barrett, a resident of Martha Brae. “The water came down fast and strong, houses, cars, everything was floating.”
DDM correspondents observed that several power lines have been snapped, plunging large parts of Trelawny into darkness, while telecommunication services remain unstable.
Emergency teams from Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and the National Works Agency (NWA) have been deployed to assess the extent of the damage and begin road clearance operations.
According to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), at least a dozen communities in northern Trelawny are still inaccessible, with reports of severe structural damage to homes and public buildings.
The Falmouth General Hospital also confirmed minor flooding in parts of its compound but remains operational, attending to residents injured by flying debris and collapsed structures.
Officials warn that recovery may take weeks, as the clean-up effort will require heavy machinery and coordination between local and national agencies.
“Roads are impassable, electricity is down, and several families are displaced,” said Mayor of Falmouth, Colin Gager, describing the situation as “critical but under coordinated response.”
DDM learned that several shelters have been opened across Wakefield, Clark’s Town, and Duncans, where hundreds of displaced residents are currently being housed and provided with emergency supplies.
Meanwhile, environmental experts warn that the flooding could cause long-term soil erosion and contamination of water sources in the affected areas.
“The mudslide risk is still high,” said Dr. Sandra Blake, a hydrologist at the University of the West Indies. “We advise residents to stay away from unstable slopes and flooded zones.”
As of Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Andrew Holness assured citizens that the government was mobilizing all available resources for immediate relief and reconstruction.
Hurricane Melissa has now moved away from Jamaica’s coast, but its impact continues to reverberate across the island, with Trelawny emerging as one of the worst-hit parishes in its aftermath.
For many residents, the coming days will be a test of endurance and resilience, as Trelawny begins the painful process of rebuilding from the ruins left after Melissa.
