Hurricane Melissa Wreaks Havoc in Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti

Hurricane Melissa has unleashed devastating destruction across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, leaving dozens dead and entire communities in ruins. The storm, which made landfall on March 5, 2024, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, is now one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. Aerial footage from Jamaica reveals catastrophic scenes, with buildings stripped of roofs and walls, and streets clogged with debris.

In the town of Black River, located two hours south of Kingston, the storm’s impact is evident. Roads have become impassable due to fallen trees and scattered wreckage, isolating the community. Residents reported being trapped, while others worked tirelessly to salvage belongings from their damaged homes. “I never see anything like this before in all my years living here,” said local resident Jennifer Small.

The full extent of the damage remains unclear, as power outages and hazardous conditions complicate recovery efforts. According to Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s education minister, approximately 77% of the island is without electricity, leading to “a total communication blackout” in several areas, as noted by Richard Thompson, acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.

Widespread Destruction Across the Region

Hurricane Melissa’s impact is not limited to Jamaica. The storm has claimed at least 23 lives in Haiti, with 13 individuals reported as missing, according to Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency. Most fatalities occurred in the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve, where flooding caused the collapse of numerous homes. The numbers of dead and missing in Haiti often fluctuate in the immediate aftermath of such disasters.

Cuba has also faced significant challenges, with officials reporting collapsed buildings, blocked mountain roads, and roofs torn from structures. The most severe damage appears to be concentrated in the southwest and northwest regions of the island. As of now, approximately 735,000 people are sheltering in emergency accommodations, reflecting the widespread necessity for relief efforts. One resident from Santiago de Cuba, Reinaldo Charon, described the experience, saying, “That was hell. All night long, it was terrible.”

In Jamaica, over 25,000 individuals have sought refuge in shelters as the storm rendered their homes uninhabitable. Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated, “Recovery will take time, but the government is fully mobilized. Relief supplies are being prepared, and we are doing everything possible to restore normalcy quickly.”

Calls for Assistance and Ongoing Challenges

Local leaders in Black River are urgently appealing for aid, with Mayor Richard Solomon describing the damage as “catastrophic.” He reported that the local rescue infrastructure has been severely compromised, with hospitals and emergency services inundated and unable to perform critical operations. The facility designated for storing relief supplies was also destroyed.

As recovery efforts begin, the Jamaican government hopes to reopen airports by March 7, 2024, to facilitate the rapid distribution of emergency supplies. Meanwhile, St. Elizabeth Police Superintendent Coleridge Minto confirmed that authorities have discovered at least four bodies in southwest Jamaica. Tragically, one death occurred when a tree fell on a baby, as reported by state minister Abka Fitz-Henley.

Before making landfall in Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa already caused fatalities in the region, contributing to the loss of three lives in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. As authorities continue to assess the damage, the human cost of this powerful storm underscores the urgent need for comprehensive recovery efforts across the affected areas.