Hurricane Melissa has caused widespread devastation in the northern Caribbean and left a trail of destruction as it moved past Bermuda in the North Atlantic. The confirmed death toll has risen to 49, with Haiti reporting 30 fatalities and 20 individuals still missing due to the relentless rainfall from the slow-moving storm.
In Haiti’s southern town of Petit-Goave, 23 people, including 10 children, lost their lives when a river overflowed, leading to severe damage to roads, houses, and farmlands. Jamaica also suffered significant impacts, with at least 19 confirmed deaths and widespread power outages, building damages, and agricultural destruction.
Jamaica’s military has mobilized reserve personnel to assist in search and rescue operations. The hurricane made landfall in southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, marking the strongest hurricane to hit the nation directly and the first major hurricane to do so in decades.
AccuWeather forecasters indicated that Hurricane Melissa tied for the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of wind speeds. The estimated economic loss in the western Caribbean region is projected to be between $67 and $72 billion.
Despite causing extensive damage in eastern Cuba, where over 735,000 individuals were evacuated, no fatalities were reported. As of the latest update, Hurricane Melissa was a Category 2 storm located west of Bermuda, with sustained winds of 161 km/h.
Bermuda authorities took precautions by closing the causeway and suspending school and ferry services as a safety measure. The Bahamas, which also felt the impact of the storm, are assessing the situation before allowing evacuated residents to return to their homes.