Hurricane Melissa has killed at least 49 people across the Caribbean, leaving widespread destruction and triggering massive rescue efforts.
Kingston
Hurricane Melissa’s death toll has risen to 49 across the northern Caribbean, with officials warning that the number is likely to increase as search and rescue operations continue in devastated regions. The Category 5 storm has left a trail of destruction from Jamaica to Haiti, Cuba, and beyond, displacing thousands and crippling infrastructure.
Authorities in Haiti reported at least 30 deaths and 20 people missing, following several days of torrential rain despite the storm not making direct landfall. Jamaica, which bore the brunt of Melissa’s fury, recorded 19 fatalities. The Dominican Republic also reported one death before the hurricane moved northward, continuing its destructive path through the region.
Melissa made landfall in western Jamaica on Tuesday with maximum sustained winds reaching 295 kilometres per hour (183 miles per hour), ranking it among the strongest Atlantic storms on record. Although the capital Kingston was spared, officials described scenes of devastation across the island’s western side, where homes, roads, and power lines were destroyed.
The hurricane later weakened to a Category 3 as it struck Cuba, unleashing fierce winds and flooding before moving past the Bahamas. The US National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa is expected to pass within 60 kilometres (37 miles) of Bermuda, bringing strong winds and heavy rains.
Even as its intensity declines, the storm’s massive size has continued to affect much of the Caribbean, where communities are grappling with power outages, washed-out roads, and widespread displacement. Emergency crews across multiple nations are working to restore communication and deliver urgent aid to affected populations.
