A clearer picture is emerging of the fallout from Hurricane Melissa with the United States government issuing a new advisory for Jamaica in its wake.
The US Department of State has raised Jamaica's travel advisory to Level 3, urging Americans to reconsider travel, citing the effects of the Category 5 hurricane alongside ongoing crime and public health concerns.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday October 28, leaving widespread damage across the island.
In the aftermath, the US embassy in Kingston has reduced staffing and will temporarily limit routine services to US citizens.
The advisory also highlights violent crime risks, noting that armed robberies and sexual assaults remain common and that Jamaica continues to record one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere, although it has seen notable reductions in various categories of crime including murder.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has also cited health as another factor in the updated travel advisory warning.
The US-based agency argued that basic and specialised medical care may not be available in many parts of Jamaica arising from the passage of the hurricane.
The State Department also classified specific areas in Jamaica as Level 4, urging American nationals not to venture due to high rates of crime.
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