UK charters flights to help transport British nationals out of Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa

The UK has chartered flights to help transport British nationals out of Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa ripped through the Caribbean.

Up to 8,000 holidaying British citizens are in Jamaica as it reels from one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, with speeds of 185mph.

People have been ordered to stay indoors after Hurricane Melissa swept over the Caribbean island, which is also home to 50,000 dual nationals, with tourists locked down in hotels.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said in a statement that it was chartering the flights to help bolster commercial capacity.

It said the chartered flights were for those "who are unable to fly home commercially", but that it was also working closely with travel companies to restore flights for holidaymakers and British nationals.

"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 said.

"If you are a British national in Jamaica wanting to leave on a flight and have not already registered your presence, you should do so immediately."

Read more: What we know about Hurricane Melissa

The FCDO urged travellers to contact their airline or travel provider first to see if commercial options are available, and if they have already booked a flight back to the UK, to confirm if it is still operating.

"We will prioritise those who are most vulnerable, for example, those with medical needs and children, in allocating seats on the flight. The cost of a seat will be based on standard commercial rates," the government said.

Eligible are British nationals and their immediate family members, which include partners or spouses and children under 18, as well as Windrush generations with indefinite leave to remain in the UK. All passengers must hold a valid travel document.

The FCDO said it would contact those who are allocated a seat on the flights directly, and urged British nationals not to make their way to the airport unless they are contacted.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "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."

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It comes after the government announced it was making £2.5m available in emergency humanitarian funding to assist recovery efforts from the devastation Hurricane Melissa caused in the Caribbean.

At least 34 people have been killed in the hurricane. Eight of the deaths so far have come in Jamaica, one in the Dominican Republic, and 25 in Haiti.

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