Hurricane Melissa’s death toll reached 49 as reported on Thursday, following its destructive path through the northern Caribbean and gaining momentum as it moved beyond Bermuda in the North Atlantic. Haiti, despite not being directly hit, suffered from heavy rains caused by the slow-moving storm, resulting in at least 30 confirmed deaths and 20 individuals still missing.
In Haiti’s southern town of Petit-Goave, a river overflow led to the tragic loss of 23 lives, including 10 children. The storm caused severe damage to roads, houses, and farmlands due to the relentless downpour. Jamaica reported 19 confirmed deaths, with authorities actively engaged in search and rescue missions. The storm caused widespread power outages, structural damages, and debris scattered across agricultural fields.
Jamaica’s military mobilized reserve personnel to assist in relief and rescue operations. Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica as a potent Category 5 hurricane, the strongest storm to directly hit the nation in its history and the first major hurricane since 1988. The storm’s wind speeds surpassed the threshold for the most powerful hurricane classification and ranked as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded.
Estimates from AccuWeather projected economic losses in the western Caribbean region to range between $67 and $72 billion. Despite causing significant destruction in eastern Cuba, where around 735,000 people were evacuated, no fatalities were reported by Thursday. As of the latest update at 11 p.m. local time, Hurricane Melissa was classified as a Category 2 storm, located 264 kilometers west of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 161 km/h.
Residents in Bermuda remained vigilant, as the storm was predicted to pass at a safe distance from the island. Precautionary measures such as closing causeways, shutting down schools and ferries were implemented. In the Bahamas, where Hurricane Melissa traversed on Wednesday night, storm warnings were lifted but authorities delayed granting the “all clear.” Evacuated individuals were advised to await official safety assessments before returning to their homes.
