Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic, carved a path of devastation through the Caribbean this week. The Category 5 hurricane caused catastrophic damage in Jamaica and triggered deadly flooding in Haiti, leaving communities in crisis.
The storm has claimed at least 25 lives in Haiti, with many more injured or missing. In Jamaica, officials are facing a massive recovery effort with billions in damages. Hurricane Melissa made a historic landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday with sustained winds of 185 mph. The storm’s immense power devastated infrastructure, agriculture, and homes.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness surveyed the damage in St. Elizabeth, an area particularly hard-hit. Aerial footage revealed widespread destruction with buildings in ruins, roofs torn away, and power lines downed across the region.
Read: Hurricane Melissa Batters Jamaica, Now Heads for Cuba as Category 4
The human impact was immediate and severe. Floodwaters washed up bodies in St. Elizabeth, and over 25,000 people sought safety in emergency shelters. A hospital worker described the terror of the storm, saying, “It was as if missiles were blowing through the glass.”
“Complete devastation”: Hurricane Melissa tore into Jamaica as a Category 5 monster, leaving widespread destruction and at least two dozen deaths across the Caribbean. pic.twitter.com/C97Oe7hhMS
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) October 29, 2025Deadly Flooding in Haiti
While the eye of the storm did not directly hit Haiti, days of relentless rain caused rivers to overflow. The coastal town of Petit-Goâve was severely impacted, with a river bursting its banks and causing fatal floods.
Haiti’s vulnerable position, exacerbated by ongoing gang violence and massive internal displacement, worsened the crisis. Over 1,000 homes were flooded, and displaced families in makeshift camps faced impossible conditions.
Read: Catastrophic Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 Storm, Takes Aim at Jamaica
In Cuba, the storm struck as a major Category 3 hurricane near Santiago de Cuba. Authorities successfully evacuated approximately 735,000 people, a move credited with preventing major loss of life. However, at least 241 communities remain isolated and cut off from communication.
The devastation has prompted a global outpouring of support, with countries pledging aid and rescue teams. The disaster has also reignited calls from Caribbean leaders for scaled-up climate finance, citing the storm’s rapid intensification due to record-warm ocean waters as a clear sign of climate change. Hurricane Melissa now moves northeast through the Bahamas as a Category 1 storm, as the long and difficult recovery begins for the nations it left behind.
