Hurricane Melissa barreled through the Caribbean on Wednesday, leaving behind a trail of death and devastation that stretched from Cuba to Haiti. Authorities confirmed that at least 25 people were killed in Haiti alone, while the total regional death toll approached 30 as rescue operations continued in Jamaica and Cuba.
Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as the strongest hurricane ever to strike the island, packing sustained winds of 185 mph (298 kph). The Category 5 storm flattened communities, shredded power lines, and left more than three-quarters of the country without electricity.
By Wednesday evening, Melissa had weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moved northeast through the Bahamas, where authorities completed the evacuation of nearly 1,500 residents from low-lying islands.
Haiti Flooded and Devastated
Though Melissa’s core did not directly hit Haiti, the country endured days of relentless rain and flooding that caused widespread destruction. Officials said at least 25 people died in the coastal town of Petit-Goave, where a river overflowed its banks, sweeping away homes and families. Among the dead were at least 10 children, and another 12 people remained missing.
Haiti’s disaster management agency reported that over 1,000 homes were submerged, leaving thousands displaced. With ongoing gang violence and more than 1.3 million already homeless, the storm compounded what was already one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
“The flooding made it impossible to sleep or sit,” said Fortune Vital, a displaced resident in Les Cayes. “If the hurricane comes on top of all the problems we already have, we’ll simply die.”
Jamaica’s Worst Hurricane in History
In Jamaica, the destruction was catastrophic. U.S. forecaster AccuWeather estimated that Melissa caused $22 billion in damages and economic losses — a blow that could take a decade to recover from.
Floodwaters swept through St. Elizabeth, an agricultural hub, where authorities reported at least four deaths. In Kingston, officials said 77% of the island remained without power as of Wednesday.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness visited the storm-ravaged Black River Hospital, where staff described working by flashlight to treat patients as windows shattered around them.
“It was the most terrifying experience of my life,” one hospital worker said. “It was as if missiles were blowing through the glass.”
The government opened more than 25,000 emergency shelters and urged residents to stay inside until conditions improved.
Cuba’s Eastern Coast Cut Off
Melissa hit Cuba’s southeastern coast overnight as a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph (193 kph), striking near Guama, about 25 miles west of Santiago de Cuba. At least 241 rural communities were left isolated, and communications were severed across much of Santiago province, affecting more than 140,000 people.
Cuban authorities evacuated over 735,000 residents before the storm’s arrival. While no deaths were immediately reported, the government said damage to crops, power infrastructure, and housing was extensive.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel urged citizens to remain alert, warning that heavy rains and landslides could still cause additional harm. “A major hurricane landfall in the dark is incredibly dangerous,” said AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, Alex DaSilva.
Scientists Warn of Climate-Driven Intensification
Meteorologists said Hurricane Melissa ranks as the third-most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Caribbean, behind Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Scientists say such storms are becoming stronger and more frequent due to warming ocean temperatures driven by greenhouse gas emissions.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre said Melissa’s “rapid intensification” underscored the need for greater international funding through the U.N.’s Loss and Damage Fund — a mechanism designed to help developing nations recover from extreme weather disasters.
“The devastation of Melissa is a clear warning that the Caribbean is on the front lines of the climate crisis,” the center said.
Global Response and Aid
Relief efforts are now underway across the region. Several nations have pledged emergency funds, food aid, and rescue teams. In Jamaica’s Montego Bay, residents described being trapped by floodwaters before rescuers broke into homes to save them.
“All the trees that my dad planted — all of them are gone,” one survivor said.
As the Caribbean begins to assess the full extent of Melissa’s damage, the storm stands as a grim reminder of the growing human cost of climate-fueled disasters.
Reuters story
