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Falmouth struggles to recover as Hurricane Melissa's toll reaches 32 dead
Ten days after Hurricane Melissa battered Jamaica, the coastal town of Falmouth remains partially submerged, its streets lined with stagnant, sewage-tainted water. The Category 5 storm killed at least 32 people across the island, caused an estimated $7 billion (£5.3 billion) in damages, and left critical infrastructure-including Falmouth's regional hospital-crippled by flooding and structural collapse.
Hospital staff recount harrowing evacuations
The hospital, situated on a low-lying western route into Falmouth, bore the brunt of the storm surge as waters overwhelmed mangrove barriers and inundated the facility. Donna-Marie Hamilton-Wallace, head of nursing, described the chaos as floodwaters engulfed the lower levels, forcing staff to form a human chain to evacuate patients to higher floors. "It was devastating for everyone-patients and staff alike," she said. "Frightening, but we're relieved no lives were lost here."
Initial assessments revealed severe damage: wards stripped of roofs by 150 mph (240 km/h) winds, the boiler room submerged under four feet (1.2 meters) of water, and medical equipment ruined. A week later, exhausted orderlies-some working without sleep for days-continued clearing debris amid an "insurmountable" recovery effort.
International aid arrives as local systems strain
Relief efforts now hinge on foreign assistance. British Royal Navy personnel, including Commandos from the Army's Crisis Response Troop, are clearing twisted metal and waterlogged equipment, while a Spanish team constructs a field hospital. Among them is Naomi Pearmine, a Marine Engineer typically responsible for HMS Trent's propulsion systems, now troubleshooting the hospital's flooded boiler-"critical to restoring operations," she noted.
Machelle Stubbs, the hospital's chief medical officer, emphasized the strain on staff: "Many haven't had time to address their own losses," she said. "Fortunately, reinforcements from Jamaica's health ministry and international agencies are arriving." Over the weekend, teams arrived via the island's signature yellow public buses, but gaps remain-particularly in laundry facilities, now roofless, and communications, with WhatsApp and phone service still unreliable.
"It's traumatizing, but as the leader, I have to stay strong. We're seeing progress-supplies, tools, labor-it's coming."
Keriesa Bell Cummings, hospital CEO
Military deployment tests sailors' adaptability
HMS Trent, deployed to support British Overseas Territories during hurricane season, anchors the relief mission. For many sailors, this marks their first land-based operation. First Lt Jacob Mikurenda, the vessel's second-in-command, called the experience "a chance to apply our skills in uncharted territory." "The resilience of Falmouth's community has been incredible," he added.
Signs of normalcy amid persistent challenges
Small victories emerge amid the devastation: sheets drying on improvised clotheslines, crumpled department signs retrieved from mud, and medical records salvaged on tarpaulins. Yet coordination remains hamstrung by patchy connectivity. "This week is better than last," locals repeat like a mantra, clinging to incremental improvements as the region braces for a long recovery.
