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Jamaica to Reopen Montego Bay Airport as Field Hospitals Are Deployed After Hurricane Melissa

Medical groups call for volunteer doctors at Black River hospital, with U.S. helicopters moving patients and aid.

Overview

  • Authorities are setting up field hospitals in five western parishes after the Category 5 storm damaged multiple medical facilities, the health minister said.
  • Power and water service remain widely disrupted, and many gas stations in the west have little or no fuel, according to the transport minister.
  • Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is scheduled to resume commercial flights on Saturday to help fly out visitors and other passengers.
  • Roughly 25,000 tourists were on the island when Melissa hit, including a high double-digit number of German nationals, officials said.
  • At least 19 deaths have been confirmed in Jamaica with five additional reports under verification, while regional fatalities exceed 50 and the system is no longer a hurricane over the Atlantic.