The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reported that no Filipino national was hurt or adversely affected by the strong hurricane that hit Jamaica.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Philippine consulate in Kingston, Jamaica said however, that they were closely monitoring the situation in the Carribean country.
The DFA pledged to also coordinate with local authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of around 500 Filipinos in Jamaica.
The Philippine embassy in Washington admonished the Filipinos in Jamaica to make all necessary preparations and heed the advice of local officials as hurricane “Melissa“ intensified into a Category 5 twister, making it the strongest storm to hit Jamaica this year.
According to reports, “Melissa” gathered strength anew to become Category 4 system after briefly weakening to Category 3 as it moves toward Cuba following its historic landfall in Jamaica.
As of press time, international news agencies said that the storm has claimed at least seven people, including three in Jamaica,, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
