TUI evacuates Dutch tourists as Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica

TUI is evacuating its Dutch customers from Jamaica, a company spokeswoman confirmed following an RTL Nieuws report. The travelers were stranded after Hurricane Melissa swept through the Caribbean island on Tuesday. TUI Netherlands is sending a plane to bring them home.

Hurricane Melissa has killed at least 19 people in Jamaica, with significant damage reported in Haiti, Cuba, and other areas. Overall, the storm is believed to have claimed nearly 50 lives.

A group of Dutch travelers on TUI package holidays in Jamaica, totaling 82 people, will be transported to the airport. Those who booked flights only through TUI can also join, but they must make their own way to the airport. According to the spokeswoman, this involves several dozen additional travelers. The plane has 305 seats. Travelers will be collected from Kingston Airport when the flight departs for Jamaica on Saturday.

A logistics support ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy is heading from Curaçao to Jamaica to deliver emergency assistance, according to the Ministry of Defense. The naval vessel carries food, medical supplies, and emergency shelters. It will stop in Barbados to pick up additional aid before continuing to Jamaica.

The naval support vessel, intended for humanitarian missions and transport across the Caribbean, is expected to reach Jamaica next week. The aid mission is being carried out at the request of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that it has not received any help requests from citizens in Jamaica.