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Jules Marcelin shares the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Petit Goave, Haiti, where he lost two family members due to severe flooding. He shows the extensive damage to his home caused by the storm on October 30, 2025. — Reuters
Confirmed fatalities include at least 25 in Haiti and 19 in Jamaica. Experts estimate damages could reach up to $52 billion. Hurricane Melissa is among the strongest storms ever recorded at landfall.
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PORT-AU-PRINCE/KINGSTON/HAVANA: The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to 44, according to official reports, after it caused widespread destruction throughout the northern Caribbean and gained speed heading toward Bermuda.
In Jamaica, the government has confirmed at least 19 fatalities, but rescue efforts continue. The hurricane knocked out power to hundreds of thousands, tore roofs off buildings, and scattered debris and wreckage across fields.
Jamaica’s military has mobilized reserve personnel to assist with relief and rescue operations.
Melissa struck southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane on Tuesday, marking the country’s strongest direct hit and the first major hurricane since 1988. Wind speeds exceeded the threshold for the hurricane’s top classification. AccuWeather reports it tied for the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of wind speed at landfall.
Damage estimates range from $48 billion to $52 billion, encompassing both economic losses and physical destruction across the western Caribbean.
Haiti, which was not directly impacted but suffered days of heavy rains from the slow-moving storm, reported at least 25 deaths, mostly in Petit-Goave, where a river overflowed, causing fatalities. A local road connecting to Jacmel was damaged and partially washed away by a swollen river, further compounded by previous storm damage from Hurricane Beryl last year.
Cuba’s eastern regions were also affected, with roughly 735,000 residents evacuated. While no fatalities have been reported there as of Thursday, homes and crops sustained significant damage.
By 8 p.m. (0000 GMT), Melissa had downgraded to a Category 1 storm, located 409 km (254 miles) southwest of Bermuda, with hurricane conditions expected on the island by nightfall, as the storm’s eye moved northwest.
Maximum sustained winds are recorded at 105 mph (169 kph). Authorities in Bermuda are remaining cautious, closing the causeway Thursday night and postponing schools and ferry services on Friday.
In the Bahamas, Melissa passed through Wednesday night. Storm warnings were lifted, but officials stopped short of declaring an all-clear, stating a decision on the safety of returning residents will be made by Saturday.
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The front page of Thursday’s Jamaica Observer proclaimed “DEVASTATION” amid scenes of widespread impact. Kingston, though densely populated, avoided the worst damage and prepared to reopen its airport and port. Aid flights have begun arriving.
Despite some areas showing less destruction, over 130 roads remain blocked by fallen trees, debris, and power lines, prompting the military to clear routes on foot. Ambulances follow behind to assist stranded residents.
Satellite images reveal extensive damage in the hardest-hit areas: stripped trees, destroyed structures, and empty, defoliated landscapes.
In Montego Bay, 77-year-old Alfred Hines waded through mud and debris, recalling his escape from rising floodwaters. “At one point, the water reached my waist, then around my neck, and I just made my way out,” he told Reuters. “I want to forget it and return to normal.”
Across western Jamaica, residents flocked to supermarkets and gas stations for supplies. Tourist Chevelle Fitzgerald described her six-hour journey from Montego Bay to Kingston, noting the highway was blocked and numerous trees had fallen. Power remains out for over 70% of Jamaica’s electrical customers, with many schools lacking water and electricity.
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Scientists warn that hurricanes are strengthening and occurring more frequently due to rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change. Many Caribbean leaders call on wealthier nations to provide reparations in aid or debt relief. Despite the U.N. establishing a funding mechanism for disaster response, donations have fallen short of targets.
AccuWeather reports Melissa as the third most intense Caribbean hurricane on record and notes its slow movement has intensified its destructive impact. U.S. rescue teams are en route to assist Jamaica, with officials pledging immediate humanitarian aid to Cuba, which was also hit hard.
Cuba, struck by Melissa as a Category 3 storm overnight, faces ongoing recovery challenges. Over 240 communities remain isolated with disrupted communications, affecting approximately 140,000 residents. Tourists were evacuated inland, and residents in Santiago, Cuba’s second-largest city, are beginning repairs after the storm.
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