Hurricane Melissa Leaves at Least 32 Dead Across Caribbean, Heads Towards Bermuda
At least 32 people have died across Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic as Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm to strike the Caribbean in modern history, continues its path northeastward towards Bermuda.
The hurricane, which sustained winds of 298 km/h (185 mph) at its peak – exceeding those of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 – caused widespread devastation, tearing apart homes, uprooting trees, and leaving tens of thousands without power. While downgraded to a Category 1 storm, Melissa remains dangerous, with the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) reporting sustained winds of 165km/h as of 09:00 GMT today. The scale of the disaster highlights the increasing vulnerability of Caribbean nations to extreme weather events linked to climate change.
Jamaica experienced particularly severe impact in the southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, where towns like Black River were cut off by knee-deep mud and washed-out bridges. Dana Malcolm of the Jamaica Observer described “very, very slow progress” reaching the area, stating, “I was standing in what used to be main street yesterday and I was knee-deep in mud where the road should have been.” Despite the widespread damage, a glimmer of hope emerged as officials announced the safe delivery of a baby, nicknamed “Baby Melissa,” under emergency conditions. For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit the National Hurricane Center.
Haiti, already grappling with a humanitarian crisis and gang violence, suffered at least 23 deaths, including 10 children, primarily due to flooding. Cuba’s second-largest city, Santiago de Cuba, sustained considerable damage, with residents working to clear debris-filled streets. Minister of State for Disaster Risk Management in the Bahamas, Leon Lundy, urged continued vigilance even as hurricane warnings were lifted for much of the archipelago, saying, “Even a weakened hurricane retains the capacity to bring serious devastation.” You can find updates on the situation in the Bahamas at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.
Authorities expect floodwaters in the Bahamas to subside today, but hazardous conditions will persist across Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola for several days.
