The World Bank is reporting that the physical damage Jamaica suffered from Hurricane Melissa amounts to US$8.8 billion.

This is according to the World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean, Lilia Burunciuc.

She presented the Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation or ‘Grade’ report, during a special press briefing on Hurricane Melissa recovery at Jamaica House yesterday.

Ms. Burunciuc stressed that the grade assessment reflects only physical damage and does not include economic losses or other impacts.

The World Bank Country Director explained that residential building damage accounted for US$3.7 billion, non-residential damage for US$1.8 billion and infrastructure damage for US$2.9 billion.

Ms. Burunciuc added that damage to the agricultural sector amounts to US$389 million and emphasized that this figure reflects physical losses only.