ALBAWABA - Hurricane Melissa, classified as a Category 5 storm, is causing massive floods and destruction in Jamaica.
Authorities in Jamaica said that the two main airports, Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston and Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, will be shut down on October 29 due to the hurricane.
A video was posted on the internet showing the Category 5 storm's effect inside Sangster International Airport. Water broke into the airport and filled the ground near the passengers' chairs, while the ceiling was destroyed, and a siren sound was heard in the background.
Operations in Kingston airport were suspended on October 25 at 9:00 p.m., while Montego Bay halted operations in MBJ on October 26 at 12:00 p.m.
Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), Raúl Revuelta Musalem, said in a statement, "Our priority at this moment is the safety and protection of the lives and well-being of our employees, their families, and the airport community."
On the other hand, the local authority in Jamaica said that the plan is to repopen Norman Manley Airport (KIN) on October 30 after inspection and clean-up. However, for Sangster Airport (MBJ), which reportedly suffered a greater impact from the category 5 storm, there is still no estimated timeline for its reopening.
