Hurricane Melissa caused significant devastation and claimed numerous lives in Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti. The storm led to power outages and forced residents to evacuate their homes due to flooding. In Jamaica’s St. Elizabeth parish, a landslide blocked main roads, turning streets into mud pits, damaging houses, and tearing off part of a high school roof used as a shelter.
Residents, shocked by the unprecedented destruction, struggled to salvage their belongings amidst the chaos. The full extent of the damage from the powerful Category 5 hurricane remained uncertain due to widespread power outages and perilous conditions. Haiti reported at least 25 fatalities and 18 missing individuals, with the majority of the casualties occurring in a southern coastal town devastated by flooding.
In Cuba, officials documented collapsed houses, blocked roads, and damaged buildings, particularly in the southwest and northwest regions. Approximately 735,000 people sought refuge in shelters as the hurricane wreaked havoc. Despite being downgraded to a Category 2 storm, Melissa’s impact in Cuba was severe.
The storm’s sustained winds of 150 km/h and movement towards the northeast raised concerns for the central Bahamas, with authorities evacuating residents from the southeast corner. Melissa was forecasted to generate a significant storm surge in the southeastern Bahamas and pass near Bermuda by late Thursday.
Given the catastrophic aftermath, the Canadian government advised against travel to several affected areas, including Jamaica, select provinces in Cuba, Haiti, and parts of the Bahamas. Canadians in need of emergency assistance were urged to contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.
In Jamaica, where the storm claimed multiple lives and caused widespread destruction, efforts to restore normalcy were underway. The government aimed to reopen airports swiftly to facilitate the distribution of emergency aid. The hurricane’s impact exacerbated Cuba’s existing economic challenges, with residents facing prolonged power blackouts and shortages of essential supplies.
Rescue and response teams from the United States were dispatched to aid recovery efforts in the Caribbean nations affected by Hurricane Melissa. The U.S. administration’s reinstatement of economic sanctions on Cuba and restrictions on tourism further complicated relief efforts in the region.