Hurricane Melissa Kills 25 in Haiti, Devastates Caribbean

Catastrophic Caribbean Storm Leaves Trail of Destruction

Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, has left a path of devastation across the Caribbean with at least 25 confirmed deaths in Haiti and widespread destruction in Jamaica and Cuba. The Category 5 storm, which tied records for intensity, has displaced thousands and caused catastrophic flooding throughout the region.

Haiti Suffers Worst Impact

In the coastal town of Petit-Goâve, southwest of Port-au-Prince, the La Digue River burst its banks early Wednesday morning, sweeping away homes and trapping residents under mud and debris. 'The river suddenly overflowed around 3 a.m., destroying everything in its path,' said Mayor Subrème, who reported the 25 fatalities to the Associated Press. 'We urgently need government assistance for the victims.'

According to Haitian Times reporting, at least 10 of the victims were children, and another 13 people remain missing. The flooding has displaced approximately 900 families, with over 3,650 people seeking shelter in public facilities across the Grand Sud region.

Record-Breaking Storm Intensity

Hurricane Melissa reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a central pressure of 892 millibars, tying it with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane as the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record. PBS NewsHour reported that the storm made landfall in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded.

'This storm underwent extreme rapid intensification from tropical storm to Category 4 hurricane in just 24 hours,' noted meteorologists from The Weather Channel. 'It maintained Category 5 status for 36 hours, causing unprecedented damage.'

Jamaica and Cuba Devastated

In Jamaica, where Melissa made direct landfall, the storm ripped roofs from homes, knocked out power to 77% of the island, and forced more than 25,000 people into shelters. Tragically, a baby was killed when a tree fell on a home during the storm's peak intensity.

Cuba suffered extensive damage as the storm moved through eastern regions, with collapsed houses, blocked mountain roads, and approximately 735,000 people remaining in shelters. CNBC reported that the hurricane has potentially worsened Cuba's severe economic crisis, with extensive flooding reported in Granma province.

Ongoing Threat and International Response

The storm, now downgraded to Category 2 with 100 mph winds, continues to threaten the Bahamas and is expected to reach Bermuda by Thursday night. Zoom Earth tracking shows the hurricane bringing tropical storm conditions to the southeast Bahamas with life-threatening storm surges of 4-7 feet above normal levels.

The United States has deployed disaster response teams to assist with recovery efforts across the affected Caribbean nations. International aid has been mobilized, including $300,000 from World Vision Haiti and $4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to assist affected communities.

'Recovery from this level of devastation will take months, if not years, in the hardest-hit regions,' stated emergency response coordinators working in the area.