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Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, killing at least 30 people and displacing hundreds of thousands as it tears through Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba on its path toward the Bahamas.
The storm, which intensified to a Category 5 hurricane with winds reaching 185 miles per hour (≈ 295 km/h), slammed into Jamaica earlier this week before sweeping north toward Haiti and Cuba.
Entire communities were submerged, power lines torn down, and infrastructure crippled across multiple islands.
“It’s the most violent hurricane we’ve seen this century,” said the World Meteorological Organization, calling Melissa a “textbook case” of rapid intensification driven by record-warm ocean temperatures.
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Jamaica: Massive Blackouts and Flooding
In Jamaica, officials confirmed at least eight deaths and reported that 77 percent of homes lost power at the height of the storm. Rescue crews struggled to reach trapped residents amid landslides and collapsed bridges. Prime Minister Andrew Holness called the damage “catastrophic,” urging the international community for emergency support.
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Haiti: Dozens Feared Dead
Haiti faced the worst human toll, with 23 confirmed fatalities and entire neighborhoods in Petit-Goâve and Les Cayes swallowed by floodwaters. The country, already crippled by political instability, now faces severe humanitarian shortages. Aid agencies warn that contaminated water could trigger a new cholera wave.
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Cuba: 735,000 Evacuated
Cuban authorities reported that over 735,000 people were evacuated from coastal regions before the storm made landfall. Strong winds and heavy rain destroyed crops and homes in Pinar del Río province, the same area devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022. State TV showed soldiers clearing debris from flooded roads as emergency shelters filled up overnight.
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Bahamas: Next in Line
Melissa weakened slightly while crossing Cuba but remained a major hurricane as it reached the Bahamas on Wednesday morning. Officials have issued Level 3 emergency alerts, warning residents to stay indoors and prepare for “life-threatening” storm surges.
Meteorologists expect the system to move north-east toward Bermuda by the weekend.
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A Warning from the Climate Frontline
Scientists emphasize that Melissa’s explosive growth mirrors a broader climate pattern: rising sea temperatures fueling stronger, faster-forming storms.
“Climate change is no longer an abstract forecast — it’s in every drop of this hurricane,” said oceanographer Lorna Pérez from the University of Havana.
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The Human Cost
Across the region, families are mourning loved ones while facing collapsed homes, washed-out roads, and power cuts stretching into their fifth day. Relief organizations say the coming 72 hours will be critical as supplies run low and communication lines remain severed in parts of Haiti and Jamaica.
“It’s not just a natural disaster,” said a Red Cross volunteer in Kingston.
“It’s a test of our preparedness, inequality, and our will to rebuild.”
