标签： Antigua and Barbuda

Super Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, struck near New Hope, St Elizabeth, on Tuesday, unleashing ferocious winds reaching up to 185 mph (295 km/h). The storm caused extensive devastation across the region, with videos capturing roofs torn from buildings, including St Elizabeth Technical High School, and debris scattered everywhere. Residents in St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St James were advised to stay indoors, even during the brief calm of the storm’s eye. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa’s central pressure of 892 millibars ties it with Hurricane Dorian (2019) and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the strongest Atlantic landfalls ever recorded. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management highlighted widespread structural damage, blocked roads, and downed power lines. Emergency teams are prepared to initiate rescue and recovery operations as soon as conditions permit. Melissa is projected to move off Jamaica’s north coast later Tuesday, maintaining its extreme danger as it heads toward the Cayman Islands and southern Bahamas.

The US military has executed three targeted strikes on four vessels in the eastern Pacific, reportedly used for narcotics trafficking, resulting in 14 fatalities and one survivor. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the operations, stating they were conducted under President Trump’s directive. The vessels, operated by groups labeled as Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs), were intercepted along known drug trafficking routes. Intelligence indicated the boats were carrying narcotics. The strikes occurred in international waters, with no US personnel harmed. US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) initiated search-and-rescue protocols for the survivor, with Mexican authorities coordinating the rescue. Hegseth emphasized the strikes as part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking networks, equating these groups to terrorist organizations like al-Qaida. He vowed to track, network, and eliminate such threats. The operations mark a significant escalation in US military action against transnational criminal groups, raising legal and ethical questions about the use of lethal force outside declared war zones. Concerns have also emerged regarding regional implications, particularly with Mexico’s involvement in the rescue. Pentagon publications and social media have shared visuals of the strikes, reinforcing claims of the vessels’ ties to DTOs. The administration asserts these intelligence-driven operations aim to disrupt organizations linked to rising narcotics-related deaths in the US. Reactions from other governments and international bodies remain pending, with analysts awaiting further details and independent verification.

Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin, has made a devastating landfall in southwestern Jamaica near New Hope. With maximum sustained winds reaching an unprecedented 185 mph (295 km/h) and a central pressure plummeting to 892 mb (26.34 inches), the hurricane has created an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Authorities have issued urgent warnings for residents to remain sheltered as the eye of the storm passes, emphasizing that winds will intensify rapidly once the eye moves on. The safest measures include staying in an interior room without windows, avoiding areas prone to falling trees, and using mattresses or helmets for additional protection. The storm’s current location is approximately 25 miles southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and 145 miles south of Guantanamo, Cuba, moving north-northeast at 9 mph (15 km/h). The next update will be provided at 2:00 PM EDT (18:00 UTC).

In a proactive response to the impending threat of Hurricane Melissa, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has finalized arrangements with LIAT Airlines to evacuate 53 students currently residing in Jamaica. The Prime Minister held discussions with LIAT’s CEO, Mrs. Hafsa Abdulsalam, on October 28, 2025, securing assurances that an aircraft will be on standby for evacuation if conditions necessitate. The students, who have been safely housed at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston since the previous Friday, are equipped with all necessary amenities to continue their studies while awaiting the storm’s impact. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, is expected to make landfall on Tuesday, moving at a slow pace with ferocious winds that pose significant risks to life and property. Prime Minister Browne has urged the nation to pray for Jamaica and its residents, seeking divine intervention to mitigate the storm’s potential devastation. Drawing from Antigua and Barbuda’s own experiences with hurricanes, the Prime Minister has pledged post-hurricane recovery assistance to Jamaica, emphasizing solidarity and support in times of crisis.