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Officials say nearly 50 people have died in the Caribbean following Hurricane Melissa

Experts estimate between $48 billion to $52 billion in damage and economic loss was caused by the storm

“The devastation is heartbreaking,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter

The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to 49 as those in the Caribbean begin recovering from the historic storm.

Officials have said 19 people have died in Jamaica and at least 30 have died in Haiti, two of the countries hit hardest by Melissa, according to the BBC , The New York Times and Reuters .

Among those killed in Haiti are 23 people, including 10 children, who were in the town of Petit-Goave when a river flooded, Reuters reported.

Another 18 people are missing in Haiti,

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