As Hurricane Melissa swept across the Caribbean, Jamaica found itself at the epicenter of one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in recent memory. By October 30, 2025, the UK government had mobilized an urgent response, chartering flights to evacuate up to 8,000 British nationals stranded on the devastated island. The storm, a rare category five hurricane with sustained winds reaching a staggering 185 mph (295 km/h), left a trail of destruction, flooding, and heartbreak in its wake, prompting emergency measures both locally and internationally.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, declared the island a disaster area after Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday, October 28. The storm’s ferocity was felt across the country, with three-quarters of Jamaica losing electricity overnight and many western regions, including popular tourist destinations like Montego Bay, submerged under floodwaters. The full extent of the devastation remains unclear, as communications infrastructure was severely crippled. Early reports and images revealed homes razed to the ground, debris-strewn streets, and fast-moving floodwaters inundating neighborhoods.
For British nationals on holiday, the experience was harrowing. Tourists were ordered to remain indoors, many locked down in their hotels as the hurricane battered the island. Lyndsey Hookway, a tourist from Devon, described her ordeal to the BBC: “The hotel is completely trashed and has no running water or air conditioning. The hotel have been spectacular, they've been communicating with us and helping us as much as they can.” She added that she had struggled to reach the British consulate: “The line is not connecting.”
Paul Potter, another British tourist, recounted to BBC that he and his family were fortunate to have power and internet, but the wider community was facing “absolute chaos with no power and a lot of debris and destruction.” Meanwhile, others in the UK, like Rayanne Walters from London, were desperate for news from loved ones on the island. “I've been really, really sad and feel heartbroken. I just really want to know my friends are okay,” she shared with BBC Newsbeat.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) responded swiftly, announcing the charter of flights to bolster commercial capacity and ensure British nationals could return home as soon as possible. The FCDO urged all British nationals in Jamaica to register their presence via the government’s Register Your Presence portal to receive updates and instructions. “All British nationals who have already registered via the Register Your Presence portal will automatically be contacted and provided with a link to the booking portal once airports are open,” an FCDO spokesperson stated.
Eligibility for these charter flights extended to British nationals and their immediate family members—including partners, spouses, and children under 18—as well as members of the Windrush generation with indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Passengers were required to hold valid travel documents, and non-British immediate family members needed valid permission to enter or remain in the UK. The FCDO made it clear that priority for seats would be given to the most vulnerable, such as those with medical needs and children, and that the cost of a seat would be based on standard commercial rates.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the urgency and gravity of the situation, stating, “The strong links between the UK and Jamaica mean many British nationals were there during the devastation of the hurricane, and we need to ensure they can get safely home, as we know how worrying and difficult the last few days will have been. The UK government is chartering flights to bolster commercial capacity and ensure people who wish to return to the UK can do so as soon as possible.”
To facilitate the evacuation and provide consular assistance, two specialist Rapid Deployment Teams were dispatched to Jamaica. The UK government also established a crisis center to coordinate efforts and support affected citizens. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy ship HMS Trent was stationed in the region on standby, ready to provide additional support if required.
Jamaican authorities, led by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, announced that some airports, such as Norman Manley in Kingston, would initially reopen for humanitarian relief flights only. Commercial flights from Kingston were expected to resume on Thursday, October 30, with Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay also reopening for relief flights. However, the timeline for a full resumption of commercial operations remained uncertain due to the extent of the damage.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa was not limited to property and infrastructure. The human toll was severe, with at least 34 people confirmed dead across the region: eight in Jamaica, one in the Dominican Republic, and twenty-five in Haiti, according to official tallies referenced by Sky News and BBC. The death toll was expected to rise as authorities gained access to more remote and heavily affected areas.
In response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the UK government announced a £2.5 million emergency aid package to support recovery efforts in the Caribbean. These funds were earmarked for the delivery of emergency supplies such as shelter kits, water filters, and blankets. Technical experts were also deployed to assist with disaster response, and the UK worked closely with Jamaican authorities and international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and UN agencies, to ensure that aid reached those most in need.
As the storm moved on from Jamaica, the US National Hurricane Center warned of continued risks, including flash flooding and landslides, as additional rainfall was forecasted for the island’s mountainous regions. The remnants of Hurricane Melissa were expected to reach the UK by the following week, though the Met Office predicted it would manifest as a more typical storm by the time it crossed the Atlantic.
Amid the chaos, stories of resilience and solidarity emerged. Hotel staff worked tirelessly to support stranded guests, while local and international agencies coordinated relief and evacuation efforts. The crisis highlighted not only the vulnerability of Caribbean nations to increasingly severe weather events but also the enduring connections between Jamaica and its diaspora in the UK.
For many British nationals and their families, the journey home will be a relief after days of uncertainty and fear. Yet, for Jamaica and its people, the road to recovery from Hurricane Melissa’s devastation is only just beginning.
