(DDM) – The death toll in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, has risen to three following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, which battered the region on Tuesday.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the most recent body was discovered in the Gallon Beach area, one of the hardest-hit communities in the parish, where heavy flooding and mudslides swept through homes, vehicles, and farmlands.
Local authorities confirmed that the recovery was made early Wednesday morning after search and rescue teams intensified operations along the coastline and nearby waterways.
Residents told DDM that the storm unleashed fierce winds and torrential rainfall that caused several rivers to overflow, leaving behind widespread damage and displacement.
“Everything happened so fast. The water rose and carried away houses, vehicles, and people. We are still trying to find missing persons,” one eyewitness recounted.
The St. Elizabeth Police Division has since cordoned off the area, while emergency responders from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) continue rescue and relief efforts.
Officials described the discovery of the bodies as part of ongoing operations to locate more potential victims feared trapped under debris or carried away by floodwaters.
Authorities have also urged residents to remain cautious, warning that rising river levels and unstable ground conditions pose continued risks in several parts of the parish.
Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast earlier in the week, brought intense rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters in some areas, causing flash floods and landslides across St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon.
DDM reports that the hurricane has been classified among the most destructive storms to hit Jamaica in recent years, leaving extensive damage to infrastructure, power supply, and agricultural zones.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has promised federal assistance to affected communities and ordered a full-scale assessment of the damage, while relief materials, including food and temporary shelter, are being distributed to displaced families.
Meanwhile, environmental experts have warned that the repeated pattern of severe flooding and coastal erosion linked to intensified tropical storms underscores the growing threat of climate change in the Caribbean region.
As cleanup efforts continue, the people of St. Elizabeth are left counting their losses, mourning loved ones, salvaging what remains of their homes, and hoping for swift recovery after yet another devastating hurricane season.
