Hurricane Melissa Leaves 25 Dead in Haiti, Rages Across Caribbean
Hurricane Melissa Leaves 25 Dead in Haiti, Rages Across Caribbean
Melissa devastates Haiti's Petit-Goave with floods as Jamaica and Cuba brace for outages and mass evacuations across the Caribbean.
Hurricane Melissa battered Haiti, with Petit-Goave recording at least 25 deaths as the La Digue river burst its banks and floodwaters swept through homes. The storm, a fierce Category 5 system, also lashed Jamaica and Cuba, leaving thousands displaced and long-running power and communications problems in its wake.
In Jamaica, residents woke to floods, downed trees, and power cuts as Melissa unleashed heavy rainfall and winds. Communications networks were severely affected, complicating efforts to gauge the full extent of damage and casualties.
Cuba prepared for its own impact, with authorities evacuating more than 700,000 residents and opening shelters as tides and winds battered the coast. The Granma newspaper reported the large-scale evacuations as the storm neared the island.
Relief groups mobilized quickly, with several organizations coordinating emergency aid, food, and medical supplies. Officials urged residents in at-risk areas to stay in shelters and heed official advisories as crews cleared roads and hospitals braced for a surge in demand.
Experts say Melissa marks another reminder of how climate-driven extremes are reshaping hurricane seasons in the Caribbean, underscoring the need for resilient infrastructure and rapid humanitarian response when the next storm arrives.
Cover image source: How to Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Melissa 🔗
