The federal government is advising Canadians to avoid traveling to certain parts of the Caribbean as Hurricane Melissa sweeps through the region.
The Category 5 storm left dozens dead and widespread destruction in Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti on Wednesday, knocking out power and forcing residents to abandon their homes in flooded cities.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said in a statement Wednesday that it is not aware of any Canadians killed in the storm, but issued updated travel advisories for the region.
Canadians should avoid all travel to Jamaica, Haiti and the eastern regions of Cuba, according to the GAC press release. That advisory had already been in effect for Haiti due to the threat of kidnappings and violence.
Additionally, travelers are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to the southeastern and central Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda.
Satellite images released by forecasting agencies showed Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, heading toward Jamaica and Cuba.
GAC is deploying a rapid response team to the region to assist with emergency response and assistance, according to the statement.
Canadians requiring assistance in affected areas can contact GAC by phone at 1-613-996-8885, email at melissa.sos@international.gc.ca, SMS at 1-613-686-3658, WhatsApp at 1-613-909-8881 or Signal at 1-613-909-8087.
Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, said Canada is monitoring the situation “very closely” and stands ready to assist with any local requests for logistics or humanitarian assistance.
“It’s a huge disaster. It’s a Class 5 disaster, the biggest Jamaica has ever seen in history,” Sarai said on Parliament Hill.
“There is nothing that can withstand that pressure.”
Sarai noted that Cuba and Jamaica have obtained $4 million from a United Nations emergency fund to which Canada has contributed more than $29 million this year.
There have been similar disbursements from Canadian-supported funds administered by the Red Cross and the World Food Program, and from Canadian projects supporting hurricane resilience, his office said.
“We are working with both governments to see what more we can do to help [and] any humanitarian aid we can offer,” Sarai said.
“If any requests are made, I think Canada will look at them quite favorably, but we will make that assessment once those requests are made.”
