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Jamaica

Jamaica: Post-Hurricane Dean clean-up activities continues

The following are current reports from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) of the impact of Hurricane Dean on Jamaica:

Casualties

To date the ODPEM has confirmed that two persons died as a result of Hurricane Dean:

- One person died in Clarendon as a result of injuries sustained from a collapsed roof.

- A 14-year-old girl from Whitehorses, St. Thomas, died from injuries sustained from rock damage to her home.

Blocked Roads

The National Works Agency (NWA) is reporting that Hurricane Dean affected a total of 248 roads.

In the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR) 10 roads are blocked, including one that is flooded and one reduced to single lane traffic:

- St. Andrew: 14 road sections blocked (East Rural/Papine Gordon Town)

- St. Catherine: 43 roads blocked and eight reduced to single lane traffic.

In the Western Region (St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, Hanover and Trelawny) eight roads blocked while another eight roads reduced to single lane traffic.

In the Northeastern region 110 roads were affected while 39 were fully blocked.

Cleared Roads

- Kingston: six cleared, including Camp Road and Harbour View to the Norman Manley International Airport.

- St. Andrew: 18 cleared single-lane; one fully cleared

- St. Catherine: 2 cleared.

Cellular Communication

Cellular communication remains down in sections of St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and sections of Trelawny and St. Thomas. Digicel continues to work on realigning antennas in affected parishes and refuel power generators.

Airports

Both international airports - Norman Manley International Airport and Donald Sangster International Airport - are now operational. Norman Manley International Airport is now accessible.

Health

The Ministry of Health, through their Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), continues to monitor the health sector across the island. There have been preliminary reports of damage to health facilities.

Shelter Updates

A total of 167 shelters are now opened across the island, housing some 3,478 persons. This number is expected to decrease as persons return to their respective homes.

The ODPEM will continue to provide the country with further updates as they become available.