Hurricane Melissa Devastates Caribbean, Leaving Dozens Dead

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with winds reaching 185 mph (297 km/h), made landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025, causing extensive damage and loss of life. The storm has been blamed for at least 19 deaths in Jamaica and 31 in nearby Haiti. In Black River, Jamaica, up to 90% of structures lost their roofs, and power lines were snapped, leaving more than 60% of the island without electricity.

In Haiti, authorities reported at least 31 people killed and 21 others missing, mostly in the country's southern region. More than 15,800 people remained in shelters.

In Cuba, no deaths were reported, but the Civil Defense evacuated more than 735,000 people across the eastern part of the island before the storm made landfall. Officials reported losses of roofs, power lines, and fiber optic telecommunications cables, as well as roads cut off, isolating communities, and heavy losses in banana, cassava, and coffee plantations. Many communities were still without electricity, internet, and telephone service.

Emergency relief efforts are underway across the affected regions, with helicopters delivering food to isolated communities and crews working to reopen roads. Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage as recovery operations proceed.