The primary constitution flight to carry Britons again from Jamaica within the wake of Hurricane Melissa is because of take off on Saturday night time.
Round 8,000 British nationals are thought to have been on the island when Melissa made landfall on Tuesday as a Class 5 hurricane with winds of as much as 185mph.
It is among the strongest hurricanes ever to hit Jamaica, the place in style vacationer areas resembling Montego Bay have been badly hit.
Picture:
Travellers wait at Norman Manley Worldwide Airport within the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Pic: Reuters
Melissa has been blamed for at the very least 28 deaths in Jamaica and 31 in close by Haiti, with the determine anticipated to rise, with many areas nonetheless troublesome to achieve.
British nationals on the island are being suggested by the Overseas Workplace to make use of industrial plane to go away Jamaica, however the authorities has chartered a small variety of flights for these cannot.
The primary is ready to take off from Kingston’s Norman Manley Worldwide Airport late on Saturday, whereas additional flights will rely on demand.
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The UK authorities says it’s working with tour operators, the Jamaican authorities and worldwide companions to help British nationals in affected areas, with two fast deployment groups on the bottom to assist.
Extra on Hurricane Melissa
The hurricane has left devastation in its wake, snapping energy strains and toppling buildings, disrupting meals and water distribution and destroying crop fields.
Rescue and assist employees have been scrambling to distribute meals and water and attain communities that are nonetheless remoted.
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4:08
‘We want assist’: Determined Jamaicans nonetheless watch for assist
The UK has introduced £7.5m of humanitarian help to assist with the efforts, together with shelter kits and solar-powered lanterns for these nonetheless with out energy.
A few of the cash can even be used to match donations to the Worldwide Crimson Cross and Crimson Crescent.
Asserting the help funding, Overseas Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned the UK was “increasing our funding for humanitarian support to ensure we can get shelter kits, solar lamps and sanitation products to those who need it most”.
