Hurricane Melissa Causes Catastrophic Damage, Claims Seven Lives in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic basin, made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane with winds reaching up to 295 km/h, causing significant damage and power outages affecting over 500,000 people. The storm left parts of southwestern Jamaica underwater, severely damaging infrastructure including hospitals, homes, and roads, with authorities anticipating loss of life despite no confirmed fatalities at the time. Videos from Montego Bay show flooding in hospitals, streets, and the airport, highlighting the extreme and life-threatening conditions experienced during the storm. As Melissa moved northeast, it weakened slightly to a Category 4 hurricane but continued to threaten Cuba, where evacuation orders were issued in preparation for its landfall near Santiago de Cuba. The National Hurricane Center forecasted heavy rains and damaging winds for Jamaica and cautioned that Melissa would remain a powerful hurricane as it progressed across Cuba, the Bahamas, and near Bermuda. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel both emphasized the extensive damage and the significant recovery efforts ahead.