Hurricane Melissa has unleashed catastrophic destruction across the Caribbean, claiming at least 25 lives in Haiti and leaving a trail of devastation in Jamaica and Cuba. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane with winds reaching 295 km/h, has caused widespread flooding, power outages, and structural damage. In Haiti, the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve saw the La Digue River overflow, collapsing dozens of homes and trapping residents under debris. Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème has urgently called for government assistance in rescue operations, as limited emergency services struggle to cope with the crisis. In Jamaica, over 25,000 people sought refuge in shelters after the hurricane tore roofs off homes and left many temporarily homeless. Desmond McKenzie, Deputy Chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council, acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, ‘It’s not going to be an easy road, Jamaica.’ The U.S. Department of Defense released footage from Hurricane Melissa, captured by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which flew through the storm to gather critical weather data. In Cuba, the storm caused collapsed houses, blocked mountain roads, and blown-off roofs, particularly in the southwest and northwest regions. Approximately 735,000 people are sheltering in eastern Cuba. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned citizens not to underestimate the storm, calling it ‘the most powerful ever to hit the country.’ The hurricane is expected to exacerbate Cuba’s existing economic crisis, marked by prolonged power outages and shortages of fuel and food. Jamaica is racing to assess the damage, with officials reporting widespread destruction in Clarendon and St. Elizabeth. The U.S. government has deployed disaster response teams and search-and-rescue personnel to the region, while non-essential U.S. personnel and their families have been authorized to leave Jamaica due to the storm’s impact.
Orkaan Melissa eist 25 levens in Haïti en veroorzaakt zware schade in Jamaica en Cuba
