UK charters flights for Brits stranded in Jamaica

The UK government arranged flights to help British citizens leave Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

It is estimated that there are as many as 8,000 Britons on the Caribbean Island. The State Department urged them to register their presence to receive updates on the disaster response.

It was not stated how many planes were rented, but it was stated that British people and their immediate families could take these planes as long as they had valid travel documents.

The rare category five storm (the strongest type) slammed into Jamaica on Tuesday, leaving behind destruction, flooding and dozens of human deaths before continuing to move towards the Caribbean.

At least five people are known to have died in Jamaica, while at least 20 people are confirmed dead in Haiti.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the charter flights were intended to “increase commercial capacity and ensure that those wishing to return to the UK can do so as quickly as possible”.

He added: “Strong ties between the UK and Jamaica mean many British nationals were there during the devastation of the cyclone and we need to ensure they return home safely as we know how worrying and difficult the last few days will be.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges those in Jamaica to first contact their airline to see if commercial flights are available.

He added that Windrush generations with indefinite leave to remain in the UK were also eligible for government flights.

Some airports, including Norman Manley in Kingston, will initially open only to humanitarian flights, Jamaican Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said on Wednesday.

Some commercial flights from the capital Kingston are scheduled to resume on Thursday.

Vaz said Sangster International Airport, which serves hard-hit Montego Bay, would reopen on Thursday for relief flights only, while commercial flights would resume at an unspecified time.

The Foreign Office announcement comes a day after the UK government pledged £2.5 million to help relief efforts; These funds will go towards distributing emergency supplies such as shelter kits, water filters and blankets.

Technical experts have also been deployed to assist with disaster response and recovery efforts.

Melissa first hit the south coast of Jamaica with maximum sustained winds of 295 km/h (185 mph); It was the strongest hurricane of the year so far.

These speeds were above those of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, one of the worst storms in history. The extent of the disaster remains unclear as communications have been largely disrupted.

Initial images show houses and other structures destroyed, streets filled with debris, and fast-flowing floodwaters flowing through neighborhoods.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a “disaster area” on Tuesday, warning of “devastating impacts” and “significant damage” to hospitals, homes and businesses.

Three-quarters of the country had no electricity overnight and much of the west coast of Jamaica was under water.

As Melissa now clears Jamaica and moves into the Atlantic, there will still be thunderstorms on the island.

The US National Hurricane Center warns that an additional 8-15 cm (3-6 inches) of rain is possible in some areas, while up to 76 cm of rain is possible in mountainous areas, and the risk of flash floods and landslides remains.

Melissa’s remains are expected to be transported to the UK next week.

The Met Office said the weather system would move towards the far north-west late on Sunday and early on Monday and was likely to act largely as a “business as usual” storm.