Hurricane Melissa causes widespread destruction across the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, and surrounding islands, causing dozens of deaths, widespread flooding, and major damage to infrastructure. In Haiti, at least 25 people died in the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve after the La Digue River overflowed, flooding homes and collapsing buildings. Residents struggled to evacuate amid torrential rains and damaged roads, with limited local emergency support available.

In Cuba, the storm caused collapsed houses, blocked mountain roads, and ripped-off roofs, especially in the southwest and northwest. Around 735,000 people remained in shelters, and some areas received over 40 centimeters of rain. Cuban authorities warned of significant damage to the already strained economy, which faces fuel shortages and power outages. President Miguel Díaz-Canel urged residents not to underestimate the hurricane’s power, calling Melissa “the strongest hurricane ever to hit the country.”

Jamaica experienced catastrophic impacts as Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h). More than 25,000 people sought refuge in shelters, and 77% of the island was left without electricity. Landslides and flooding blocked roads and damaged homes, leaving many temporarily homeless.

The hurricane has left the region grappling with rescue operations, recovery efforts, and ongoing threats from heavy rains and unstable conditions.