Jamaican Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has declared the country a disaster area after Hurricane Melissa devastated the country on October 28, causing widespread infrastructure damage and catastrophic flooding.

The category-five storm made history as the most powerful hurricane to strike the island, making landfall in Westmoreland with winds of 185 mph midday local time in Jamaica.

By 4 pm, Melissa weakened to a category-four storm with a wind speed of 145 mph as it moved across the island and headed toward Cuba.