Three people reportedly lost their lives while trying to safeguard properties in preparation for the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

They are from Hanover, another St Catherine, and St Elizabeth.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton made the announcement during a press conference hosted by the Government of Jamaica at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

“These are due to persons preparing for the storm. Unfortunately cutting down of trees in particular. In one case, a tree fell on one of the individuals in St Elizabeth. He was airlifted, and it’s a health worker, to University Hospital and succumbed to his injuries,” Dr Tufton updated.

He said that for the incident in Hanover, a similar event occurred, while for the St Catherine case, there was an electrocution linked to the cutting of trees.

There have been about 13 other recorded injuries linked to the preparation efforts for Hurricane Melissa, with persons falling off ladders, rooftops while trying to prepare for the storm.

At the press conference, Dr Tufton also expressed sympathy with the families affected and urged persons to exercise extreme caution and seek help while doing these preparatory work.