Jamaica Declared Disaster Area as Hurricane Melissa Wreaks Extensive Damage

Hurricane Melissa, a historic and extremely powerful storm, made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, causing widespread destruction, catastrophic flooding, and significant infrastructure damage, including to multiple hospitals. The Jamaican government, led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, declared the entire island a disaster area and implemented measures to regulate trade and prevent exploitation during the recovery. Over 500,000 households lost power, thousands sought shelter, and key agricultural regions such as Saint Elizabeth suffered severe damage. The storm, now downgraded to Category 3, continues to move toward Cuba while thousands of British tourists remain stranded in Jamaica amid criticisms of the UK government's response. Holness emphasized the priority on safety and well-being, while officials expect some loss of life though no fatalities have been confirmed in Jamaica so far. The situation remains critical as recovery efforts are underway and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.