Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Deaths Near 50

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, then moved across the northern Caribbean, devastating communities in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba with widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure collapse. Authorities and media report the death toll is rising, with tallies around 49–50 overall while country-level counts are still being verified; thousands have been displaced and tens of thousands remain in shelters. The storm knocked out power across large parts of Jamaica, disrupted water systems, ripped roofs from buildings and flooded wide areas, prompting more than 735,000 evacuations in eastern Cuba. International and local relief efforts, including American rescue teams and charities, are underway, and Jamaica has triggered a catastrophe bond—potentially releasing up to US$150 million—to finance relief. Scientists cited in international reports say human-caused climate change made an event like Melissa several times more likely, and Jamaican authorities have set a December 15, 2025 target to help restore the tourism industry as recovery continues.