Hurricane Melissa has caused devastation in the northern Caribbean, leading to a confirmed death toll of 49 as per official reports. The storm passed Bermuda in the North Atlantic after wreaking havoc in the region.
Haiti, although not directly hit by the hurricane, faced significant challenges due to days of heavy rainfall from the slow-moving storm. Reports indicate at least 30 deaths and 20 individuals still missing. In the southern town of Petit-Goave, 23 people, including 10 children, lost their lives when a river overflowed, causing damage to roads, houses, and farmlands.
In Jamaica, at least 19 fatalities have been confirmed, with search and rescue operations ongoing. The storm caused widespread power outages, structural damage, and debris scattered across fields. The Jamaican military has mobilized reserve personnel to assist in relief and rescue efforts.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica as a potent Category 5 hurricane, marking the strongest storm to directly hit the country in its history and the first major hurricane to do so since 1988. The storm’s wind speeds exceeded the threshold for the most severe hurricane classification and ranked as the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history in terms of wind speed upon landfall.
The estimated economic loss and damage in the western Caribbean due to Melissa’s impact are projected to range between $67 and $72 billion. The storm also affected eastern Cuba, prompting the evacuation of 735,000 individuals. Despite significant property and crop damage, no casualties were reported in Cuba.
As of the latest update, Hurricane Melissa was classified as a Category 2 storm, positioned 264 kilometers west of Bermuda in the North Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds of 161 km/h. While Bermuda prepared for potential impact, authorities opted to close the causeway and suspend school and ferry services as a precautionary measure.
In the Bahamas, which Hurricane Melissa traversed on Wednesday night, storm warnings were lifted but the “all clear” signal was not yet given. Authorities planned to assess the situation by Saturday to determine when evacuated residents could safely return to their homes.
