Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Kills Dozens

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, made landfall in western Jamaica as a Category 5 with sustained winds around 185 mph, devastating large swathes of the island and knocking out power while destroying homes and infrastructure. The storm dumped days of torrential rain across Haiti—where a river burst its banks in Petit-Goâve—killing at least 23–25 people and leaving others missing; authorities report dozens of deaths across the region, with Caribbean totals of about 30–34. Cuba suffered “extensive” damage, with hundreds of thousands evacuated, collapsed houses, blocked roads and disrupted communications. Melissa has since weakened to Category 1 as it moves through the Bahamas toward Bermuda, while thousands remain in shelters and many communities urgently need food, water and medical support. The Red Cross and other aid agencies called the event an unprecedented catastrophe, and the US, UK and other partners are mobilizing rescue teams and humanitarian assistance; early estimates suggest Jamaica alone could face losses in the tens of billions and a multi-year rebuilding effort.