The heartbreaking impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica has become tragically clear, with the latest reports confirming that the death toll has climbed to 28. Prime Minister Andrew Holness shared this somber update, noting that an additional nine deaths were reported on Saturday alone. He also cautioned that there are ongoing reports of potential fatalities that still need to be verified, suggesting that the final toll could be even higher.
Emergency services and aid organizations are facing immense challenges in reaching affected areas. Blocked roads, widespread debris, and ongoing flooding are hindering efforts to provide crucial assistance to those in need. Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 5 storm, has brought immense devastation throughout the Caribbean, causing numerous deaths and widespread destruction in countries like Cuba and Haiti, with powerful winds and severe landslides.
In Jamaica, the full extent of the damage is only now beginning to be understood as communication and power systems, knocked out by the hurricane’s fierce passage on Tuesday, are slowly being restored. The western regions of the island, including areas like Black River and Montego Bay, have borne the brunt of Melissa’s fury. Heart-wrenching images depict buildings reduced to rubble, streets littered with debris and personal belongings, and entire neighborhoods submerged in floodwaters. According to the Red Cross, a significant portion of the population, approximately 72%, remains without electricity, and around 6,000 individuals are currently housed in emergency shelters.
Jamaican officials have confirmed the establishment of several field hospitals in the most severely impacted western areas to provide medical care. The initial distribution of aid was hampered by the temporary closure of Jamaican airports, but now that flights have resumed, the ongoing damage to infrastructure—including landslides, fallen power lines, and toppled trees—continues to complicate the delivery of essential supplies like clean drinking water, food, and medicine. In some desperate situations, people have reportedly entered supermarkets and pharmacies to gather necessities.
Hurricane Melissa has made history as the most powerful storm ever to hit Jamaica and one of the most intense to sweep across the Caribbean. At its peak, Melissa was generating sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), significantly exceeding the 157 mph threshold for a Category 5 hurricane, which indicates catastrophic potential.
The wider Caribbean has also suffered greatly. Haiti has tragically reported at least 31 fatalities due to Melissa, while the Dominican Republic has confirmed at least two deaths. In Cuba, the hurricane necessitated the evacuation of thousands of people, with over 60,000 homes sustaining damage or being completely destroyed.
While the precise impact of climate change on the frequency of such extreme weather events is still under investigation, it is understood that warmer sea surface temperatures provide more energy for hurricanes, leading to increased intensity and heavier rainfall. As the world has already experienced a warming of approximately 1.1C since the industrial era, and with temperatures projected to continue rising unless significant emission cuts are made by global governments, the likelihood of more powerful and destructive storms like Melissa remains a critical concern. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season even before the season began.