Catastrophic Damage in Jamaica as Category 5 Hurricane Strikes
Hurricane Melissa has unleashed catastrophic destruction across Jamaica, with the island nation declared a disaster area after the powerful storm made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane with winds reaching 298 kilometers per hour. The storm, described by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness as a 'catastrophe', has caused widespread damage to schools, hospitals, homes, and critical infrastructure throughout the Caribbean nation.
Unprecedented Destruction and Power Outages
According to Jamaica's national disaster response service, the scale of damage is 'enormous' but still being assessed as flooding and landslides have made multiple communities inaccessible. More than 530,000 residents are without electricity, and the government hopes to begin extensive recovery operations this week. 'There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5 disaster,' Prime Minister Holness warned earlier, adding 'We have prepared and prayed for the best.'
The hurricane tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane as the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, according to meteorological records. Melissa made landfall near New Hope in Westmoreland Parish at peak intensity, unleashing storm surges up to 13 feet and torrential rainfall that triggered dangerous landslides across the mountainous terrain.
Mass Evacuations and Preparations
In preparation for the storm, Jamaican authorities evacuated approximately 15,000 residents to shelters, while many others secured their homes by boarding up windows and placing sandbags. Despite these efforts, the storm's unprecedented force overwhelmed existing infrastructure. Three people died during preparation activities before the hurricane's arrival, adding to the total death toll of at least 15 across the Caribbean region.
Storm Now Threatens Cuba with Similar Force
After battering Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa has weakened to a Category 4 storm but remains extremely dangerous as it moves toward eastern Cuba. Cuban authorities have launched their largest evacuation operation since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, with nearly 169,000 people evacuated from vulnerable coastal communities, mountainous areas, and settlements near rivers.
Cuban President Expresses Grave Concerns
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated 'Hurricane Melissa will arrive with much violence and we are concerned about what it will destroy.' The storm is expected to directly impact Granma, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba provinces, bringing sustained winds of 130-140 mph with higher gusts and extreme rainfall of 20-30 inches that will trigger dangerous flash flooding and mudslides.
The U.S. Navy has evacuated 864 non-mission essential personnel from Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, flying them to safety at Naval Air Station Pensacola as the storm approached, according to military reports.
Climate Change Connection to Hurricane Intensity
Scientists note that while hurricanes may not be occurring more frequently due to climate change, the strongest storms are becoming more intense. 'Hurricanes draw their energy from seawater, so the warmer the water becomes due to climate change, the more power a hurricane gets,' explains climate researchers. This phenomenon, combined with rising sea levels that increase storm surge heights, creates conditions for more destructive hurricane impacts on coastal communities.
The storm continues to be monitored as it tracks through the Caribbean, with forecasters warning that after crossing Cuba, Melissa will move through the central and southeastern Bahamas before potentially affecting Bermuda later this week.