KINGSTON, Jamaica — Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has confirmed that no fatalities have been reported in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck the island’s southwest coast on Tuesday. Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, McKenzie emphasized that authorities have not received any reports of deaths linked to the hurricane. ‘We are not in a position to speak about any deaths because we have not had any reports of any deaths so far, so we cannot presume that there are deaths,’ he stated. McKenzie expressed hope that the situation remains unchanged, adding, ‘I am hoping there are no deaths to report on.’ The hurricane, one of the most powerful to hit Jamaica in recent years, caused significant damage to infrastructure and property, but the absence of reported fatalities has been a rare positive note in the wake of the disaster. Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and provide relief to affected communities.