Tourists on hotel lockdown among thousands of Britons at risk as Storm Melissa batters Jamaica
Tourists quarantined in their hotels are among thousands of Brits at risk as deadly Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica.
The Jamaican government has ordered evacuations from high-risk areas, while other people have been told to stay inside and all of the country’s airports have been closed as the world’s most powerful storm yet is set to touch down on Thursday.
At least seven people have died in the Caribbean region so far, three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that “50,000 dual nationals live in Jamaica, and there are up to 8,000 British citizens traveling or holidaying there,” while calling on British citizens to now report their presence to the Foreign Office.
Among them is holidaymaker Andrew Tracey, who said he was ordered to stay in his hotel bathroom until the storm passed. He was supposed to fly home on Monday before his flight was cancelled.
Mr Tracey described how beach chairs at the Negril hotel had been removed and swimming pools emptied, while food packets were distributed to guests.
“It feels like the balcony and walls are shaking from the force of the wind,” he told Sky News. “I’m so nervous, it’s hard to understand what we can expect.”
Rebecca Chapman, who was in Jamaica for her 25th wedding anniversary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that her family’s hotel room was about 10 meters from the sea, so they moved to a more sheltered room.
“There’s a weird roar, like it’s coming from the sea. It’s really weird, like something is coming,” he said. “The birds are all gone, so everything got really quiet. It’s like a ghost town.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has told travelers that devastating floods and landslides are likely in the coming hours, with up to 700mm of rain, four-metre waves and winds of up to 135mph.
Describing Melissa as “potentially the strongest storm to hit the country”, Ms Cooper said: “FCDO is ready to help British citizens 24/7.
“We have established a crisis center at the Foreign Office (with support from the Ministry of Defence) and are also positioning specialist rapid deployment teams to provide consular assistance to British nationals in the region.
“All British nationals there should follow our travel advice and that of the Jamaican authorities.”
In an update on Tuesday afternoon, the FCDO said British citizens in the country should sign up to receive updates.
Meanwhile a Royal Navy ship HMS Trent It is already pending in the region.
Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength as it approached Jamaica; this was the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds exceeding 157mph.
Three such hurricanes have formed in the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season; This is something not seen for 20 years.
Previous Category 5 hurricanes included Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed 1,392 people and caused an estimated $125 billion worth of damage, especially around New Orleans.
A spokesman for UK travel trade organization Abta said: “Travel providers liaise with their suppliers locally and provide advice and assistance to their customers.
“Customers currently in Jamaica are advised to monitor local news and follow the advice of local authorities, accommodation and travel providers.”
