The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Melissa has climbed to at least 49, according to official reports, after the storm wreaked destruction across much of the northern Caribbean earlier this week.

Authorities in Haiti, which was not directly hit but suffered days of torrential rains from the slow-moving storm, reported at least 30 deaths and 20 more missing on Thursday local time.

At least 23 people, including 10 children, died in Haiti's southern town of Petit-Goave when a river burst its banks. Roads, houses and farmlands were also damaged by the rains.

Jamaica's information minister confirmed at least 19 deaths, but said authorities were continuing search and rescue efforts. The storm left hundreds of thousands without power, ripped roofs of buildings and scattered fields with rub

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