Hurricane Melissa intensified as it moved toward Bermuda on Thursday, leaving a path of devastation across the northern Caribbean. Local authorities reported nearly 30 fatalities, with significant damage to infrastructure and communities. The storm, now a Category 1 hurricane, was located 526 kilometers southwest of Bermuda, where hurricane-like conditions were anticipated by evening. Melissa’s maximum sustained winds reached 169 km/h, but residents remained calm as the storm was expected to pass relatively wide of the island. Authorities announced road closures and the suspension of schools and ferries as a precautionary measure. In the Bahamas, storm warnings were lifted, but officials have yet to declare the area fully safe. Hundreds of evacuees may return home by Saturday, pending safety assessments. Although Haiti was not directly hit, heavy rains caused a river to overflow, resulting in at least 25 deaths in Petit-Goave. The collapse of a riverbank also destroyed part of a national highway, further isolating communities. Jamaica, directly struck by Melissa as a Category 5 hurricane, reported at least four deaths in the southwestern region. The storm’s winds far exceeded the threshold for the highest hurricane category, making it the third strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Caribbean. Satellite images revealed widespread destruction in Jamaica, with forests and homes flattened. Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed concern for affected citizens during a helicopter tour of the hardest-hit areas. Over 70% of Jamaica’s electricity customers remained without power, and many schools lacked essential services. Rescue operations were underway, with U.S. search and rescue teams en route to assist. Cuba, which experienced Melissa as a Category 3 storm, reported significant infrastructure and crop damage but no fatalities. The storm isolated 241 communities, affecting up to 140,000 residents. Authorities evacuated 735,000 people to shelters and relocated tourists to inland hotels. The U.S. pledged immediate humanitarian aid to Cuba, despite longstanding tensions between the two nations.