COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - What began as a 40th birthday trip to Jamaica became a fight for survival when Hurricane Melissa struck the island as a Category 5 storm.

Keshayla Wilson and Shaley Espino were trapped in their hotel room at the Riu Palace, 30 minutes outside of Montego Bay, when the hurricane made landfall around 1 p.m. on October 28.

“My travel agent actually called and told me there was going to be a tropical storm. Originally it started as a tropical storm and then it moved into a hurricane category 5,” Wilson said.

The women said they had no knowledge of the approaching storm when they departed for their trip. With the airport shut down before the hurricane’s arrival, they had no option to leave.

Storm damages hotel room

“As I was laying on the floor on just my mattress our

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