Ed Balls and Charlotte Hawkins fronted Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (Image: ITV)
Good Morning Britain was interrupted to deliver a breaking report on the catastrophic hurricane that has struck Jamaica. Now classified as a Category 5 storm, Hurricane Melissa has claimed at least three lives, while more than 200 Brits have been confined to a hotel until at least Wednesday.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall on the southern coast of Jamaica on Tuesday morning (October 28) before moving on to Cuba later in the day. Ed Balls and Charlotte Hawkins hosted Tuesday’s instalment of the programme, which came to an abrupt halt as Liz Summers reported on the devastating news.
She said: “It is a slow moving giant. The eye of Hurricane Melissa appears peaceful, but it’s bringing winds of up to 175mph and torrential rain, threatening Jamaica with d3adly flooding and landslides.
“Those on the island are preparing as best they can, knowing the impact could be catastrophic.”
Andrew Tracey, a British holidaymaker staying in Negril, revealed they have been told to stack mattresses in front of windows and lock themselves in the bathroom until Wednesday.
Tearing up, Andrew added: “It’s one of the hardest things speaking to family members and trying to remain strong, having no idea yourself what exactly is going to happen.”
The Foreign Office warned: “It is expected to bring exceptional levels of rainfall to the whole of Jamaica. There are estimates for up to 700mm of rain, storm surges around coastal areas bringing waves of up to 4 metres, and winds of up to 135mph. Catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely.”
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered mandatory evacuations across parts of southern Jamaica, including Port Royal, and has appealed for international assistance, warning of severe damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
Both of Jamaica’s international airports – Norman Manley in Kingston and Sangster in Montego Bay – have closed in preparation for Melissa’s arrival.
Hurricane Melissa is now among the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. By comparison, Hurricane Allen, which struck in 1980, remains the fastest on record, with wind speeds reaching 190 mph.
That storm claimed 281 lives and caused nearly $1.6 billion (1980 USD) in damage across regions including Haiti, Jamaica, northern Mexico, and southern Texas.
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Emmerdale fans could be in for a shock as Andy Sugden, played by Kelvin Fletcher, might make a dramatic return to the soap.
Andy first graced our screens back in 1996 and quickly became a fan favourite with his heartthrob status. His time in the Dales was filled with high-stakes storylines, from numerous failed romances to fathering Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) with Debbie Dingle(Charley Webb).
However, after years of drama, Andy decided to leave the village in 2016 when he was framed for the accidental shooting of Lawrence White (John Bowe) by Chrissie (Louise Marwood).
With the help of half-brother Robert (Ryan Hawley), Andy managed to go on the run and hasn’t been seen since, but fans speculate that this could soon change, reports the Daily Star.
Currently, Robert is embroiled in a major storyline after his husband Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) moved to the Dales following a long-term prison sentence for bank robbery.
Andy hasn’t been seen since 2016 (Image: TV Grab)
While incarcerated, Kev married Robert and now hopes they can live happily ever after. Robert has since resumed a relationship with Kev, much to Aaron Dingle’s (Danny Miller) dismay.
However, in Monday’s episode (October 27), things took a dark turn when Kev showed his true colours. During the episode, Robert arrived at Aaron’s flat leading to a tense showdown over who was best for Robert.
The situation intensified when Kev threatened Aaron, stating he would kill him if he interfered in his love life. Now, with Kev revealing his true nature, could Andy Sugden be making a return to Emmerdale?
Newcomer Kev has ruffled some feathers (Image: ITV)
Fans certainly seem to think so, speculating that he might come back to rescue his half-brother Robert from Kev. On an Emmerdale Facebook fan page, one viewer expressed: “I don’t like Kev, don’t trust him one bit.”
Another added: “Get Andy Sugden back to sort him out.”
A third joined the conversation and exclaimed: “Would so love this!” Another fan suggested that Andy might return upon the birth of his granddaughter, commenting: “Or maybe when Sarah’s baby is born.”
