British tourists in Jamaica have been told to prepare as the island’s strongest storm on record closes in.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has set up a crisis centre ready to help Britons on the Caribbean island, and the Royal Navy ship HMS Trent is already in the region on stand-by.
Hurricane Melissa will hit Jamaica on Tuesday as a category five storm, the strongest for the island since record-keeping began 174 years ago.
Visit our updated article for live tracking of Hurricane Melissa
All of Jamaica’s international airports have been closed until further notice. But around 5,000 British nationals are on the island, reports have said.
Having arrived in Jamaica for a week’s holiday, train driver Andrew Tracey was due to fly back home yesterday but is instead on lockdown in his hotel room in Negril – a beach resort town in the west of the country.
The 32-year-old, from Folkestone in Kent, has been told to remain in his bedroom at the RIU Negril hotel until at least Wednesday by staff as part of their security measures.
‘I managed to get a few hours of sleep, but the wind has been so loud since about 2am. It feels as though the hotel walls are vibrating,’ he told Metro.
‘The walls feel like they are moving. Power is only coming on briefly now, and we are about to lose it completely.’
The hotel has handed out a hurricane ration pack to guests, including crackers, granola bars, ramen, and soda, he said.
‘I’m here with a friend, and the hotel has been great as they have extended my stay for free. The weather is very deceptive as there is almost no wind at all and we have had no rain yet, it is just very cloudy.’
With his flight cancelled by booking agent TUI due to Montego Bay airport closing, Mr Tracey is unsure when he will be able to fly home.
‘For now, thankfully, we have Wifi, but I’m worried once that goes down, we could be without communication for days or even weeks,’ he added.
Though he’s settled down for the storm of the century, Mr Tracey said he’s worried that the island will be devastated.
‘I’m expecting the worst, but right now can only hope for the best.’
Mother-of-two Michaela Menezes, originally from Cheshire, is also sheltering with her 14-year-old son and ten-year-old daughter after the country closed the airports.
‘When the news started coming in about the hurricane, I couldn’t sleep a wink and just knew I had to get myself and my kids to safety,’ the 45-year-old told Metro.
‘The hotel has advised us that when the weather hits hard, we are to gather in the hotel corridor or in our bathroom, as we have to stay away from the windows.
‘Jamaica is the most beautiful country and the people are strong,’ she said.
Shelter advice for those in Jamaica
Catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely, with up to 700mm of rain, four-metre waves and 135mph winds possible, the FCDO said.
The Jamaican government has published a list of available hurricane shelters.
UK travel trade organisation Abta warned British tourists in Jamaica to monitor local news.
A spokesperson said: ‘The international airports in Jamaica are now closed as a precaution until the storm passes.
‘Travel providers are liaising with their suppliers locally and providing advice and assistance to their customers. Customers currently in Jamaica are advised to monitor local news and should follow the advice of the local authorities, their accommodation and travel providers.
‘Customers who are imminently due to travel to Jamaica should liaise with their travel provider and airline to establish if there are any changes to their travel arrangements.’
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