Black River Hospital Suffers Devastating Damage from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s relentless assault on Jamaica, the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth has suffered catastrophic damage, leaving the critical healthcare facility inoperable. The Category 5 hurricane, with its record-breaking winds and storm surges, tore apart the hospital’s roof, collapsed multiple walls, and submerged the compound under floodwaters littered with debris. As conditions rapidly worsened, medical staff and patients were forced to evacuate, facing perilous rising water levels and hazardous flying debris. Authorities confirmed that the hospital, a lifeline for thousands in Jamaica’s southwest region, is now non-functional. Emergency teams are scrambling to relocate patients to nearby facilities, despite ongoing challenges such as widespread power outages and impassable roads. Hurricane Melissa continues to batter the island, unleashing destructive winds and torrential rainfall, which have caused widespread devastation. Rescue and recovery efforts are severely hindered by blocked roadways, downed power lines, and extensive flooding, leaving communities in dire need of assistance.