Hurricane Melissa live updates: No official death toll in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica after the storm made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.
After lashing Jamaica with dangerous winds and flooding rain, Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning. Melissa then moved through the Bahamas, and next, on Thursday night, the storm will pass Bermuda as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.
Key Headlines
No new fatalities reported in Jamaica
Search and rescue operations are underway across Jamaica, but no new fatalities have been reported, Desmond McKenzie, the minister of Local Government and Community Development, said Wednesday morning.
"We are not in a position to speak about any deaths because have not had any reports of deaths so far. So, we cannot presume that there are deaths,” McKenzie said. “I am hoping that there are no deaths to report on. But we are not in a position to make an official statement on deaths because we have not received any such information."
At least three people died in Jamaica during storm preparations earlier this week, according to The Associated Press.
Widespread destruction reported on western part of Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa struck the western part of Jamaica the hardest, leaving widespread destruction, officials said.
Black River Hospital on the southwest side of the island has been devastated and several other hospitals suffered damage, Desmond McKenzie, the minister of Local Government and Community Development, said.
Many roads are flooded and crews are working to clear the roads that are blocked by debris, officials said.
Officials said they hope to open Norman Manly International Airport in Kingston for relief flights on Thursday.
-ABC News’ Othon Leyva
Latest forecast
Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph, has moved away from Cuba and is heading northeast toward the southeastern Bahamas.
But the flooding rains and damaging winds will continue for Cuba throughout the day. Rain totals on the island are forecast to reach 10 to 20 inches and could even hit 25 inches in some areas.
The southeast Bahamas should expect 5 to 10 inches of rainfall and a storm surge of 4 to 7 feet.
-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke
Jamaica to ramp up recovery efforts
Recovery efforts are expected to ramp up across Jamaica after the monster storm ripped across the island on Tuesday, destroying homes and schools.
After the storm knocked out power to at least 500,000 customers, Jamaica Public Service said Wednesday morning, “Teams worked until late last night addressing safety risks, and restored service to some customers in least damaged parishes. However, we must get the official all-clear from relevant agencies before officially beginning post-hurricane assessment and restoration.”
The Jamaica Constabulary Force posted video of cleanup efforts at police headquarters on Wednesday.
"As the recovery phase begins following the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa, it’s all hands on deck,” police said.
-ABC News’ Othon Leyva