Hurricane Melissa Causes Widespread Destruction in the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds nearing 300 km/h, made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, marking the most powerful hurricane in the island's history. The storm caused extensive damage, including roofless homes, toppled utility poles, and widespread flooding. In St. Elizabeth parish, a landslide blocked main roads, turning streets into mud pits. Resident Jennifer Small remarked, "I never see anything like this before in all my years living here."

In Haiti, flooding from Melissa resulted in at least 25 deaths in the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve. Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème reported that dozens of homes collapsed when the La Digue river burst its banks, leaving residents trapped under rubble.

Cuba also faced significant impacts, with collapsed houses, blocked roads, and over 735,000 people in shelters. The provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Granma experienced severe damage, including to critical infrastructure such as hospitals. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated, "There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage."

As of October 29, 2025, Hurricane Melissa had weakened to a Category 2 storm with top sustained winds of 100 mph and was moving northeast toward the southeastern Bahamas. Relief efforts are underway, with the United States and the United Kingdom dispatching aid teams and humanitarian support to the affected Caribbean nations.