Hurricane Melissa has unleashed a destructive path across the Caribbean, with early reports indicating at least 32 fatalities as the powerful storm swept through Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba. While Melissa has been downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 1 hurricane, its impact remains severe.
The storm, noted as the strongest to hit the Caribbean in modern history, sustained winds of up to 298 km/h (185 mph) at its peak, surpassing the intensity of Hurricane Katrina. As of Thursday morning, sustained winds were recorded at 165 km/h, with authorities warning of potential coastal flooding.
The Bahamas has seen hurricane warnings lifted for its central and southern islands, as well as Turks and Caicos. Despite evacuations and disruptions, tourism in areas like Nassau and Freeport remains largely unaffected. However, across the wider Caribbean, homes and infrastructure have been severely damaged, trees uprooted, and tens of thousands left without power.
In Cuba, the city of Santiago de Cuba is heavily impacted, with residents working to clear debris. Jamaica has also suffered immensely, particularly in the southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, where landslides and washed-out bridges have isolated communities. Reports from Mandeville describe extensive damage, including a flattened petrol station.
Communication networks in many affected areas are down, leaving families struggling to reach loved ones. Amidst the devastation, there are also stories of resilience, with a baby reportedly delivered safely under emergency conditions in Jamaica.
Haiti, already facing a humanitarian crisis, has reported at least 23 deaths, primarily due to flooding from prolonged rainfall. The Dominican Republic also recorded one fatality attributed to the storm.
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