The catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica’s southwestern coast on October 28, has been quantified at a staggering $8.8 billion. This updated estimate, presented by Lilia Burunciuc, the World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, was disclosed during a press briefing at Jamaica House on Thursday. The figure accounts for 41% of Jamaica’s projected gross domestic product (GDP) for 2024, highlighting the immense scale of the disaster. Burunciuc emphasized that this assessment reflects only the physical damage, with economic repercussions expected to be even more severe. A comprehensive evaluation of the economic toll will follow once the monetary assessment is finalized. The parishes of St. James, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth bore the brunt of the hurricane’s fury, sustaining $5.5 billion in damages—63% of the total estimate. Residential buildings suffered the most significant losses, amounting to $3.7 billion, or 41% of the overall damage. This category includes homes, their contents, and mixed-use buildings classified as residential. Non-residential buildings, encompassing commercial, industrial, tourism, and public structures, incurred $1.8 billion in damages. Infrastructure damage was estimated at $2.9 billion, while agricultural losses totaled $389 million. The devastation underscores the urgent need for recovery efforts and international support to rebuild Jamaica’s affected regions.