Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, claiming at least 30 lives and displacing thousands as it carved a path from Jamaica to the Bahamas. The Category 5 storm – the strongest to directly hit Jamaica – brought sustained winds of 185 mph, submerging communities, crippling infrastructure, and testing regional disaster response systems.
In Haiti, days of torrential rain triggered deadly floods in Petit-Goâve, where 25 fatalities were reported. Over 12,000 residents sought emergency shelters amid widespread flooding, while gang-related instability hampered relief efforts. "If the hurricane comes on top of all the problems we already have, we'll simply die," said Fortune Vital, a displaced resident in Les Cayes.
Jamaica bore the brunt of Melissa's fury, with AccuWeather estimating $22 billion in damages. Prime Minister Andrew Holness surveyed St. Elizabeth parish, where hospital workers described enduring "the most terrifying experience" as winds "like missiles" shattered buildings. Nearly 80% of the island remains without power, with recovery efforts expected to take years.
The slow-moving storm now threatens the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, where mass evacuations preceded its arrival. Meteorologists note Melissa's unusual combination of record intensity and prolonged duration amplified its destructive potential – a pattern raising questions about climate resilience in vulnerable regions.
