What was supposed to be another tropical storm season has turned into a nightmare for thousands across the Caribbean.
Hurricane Melissa, dubbed by meteorologists as “the storm of the century,” has left Jamaica in ruins and is now battering Cuba with relentless winds and torrential rain.
Across Jamaica, neighborhoods have been swallowed by floodwaters, homes ripped apart, and power lines strewn across roads.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, hundreds of thousands are fleeing their homes, bracing for what’s already being called the most powerful storm to ever hit the island.
Jamaica Drowns Under Record Floods and Winds
In Jamaica, the scale of destruction is almost impossible to describe.
Towns like Black River in St. Elizabeth have been left unrecognizable — roofs ripped off, buildings flattened, and entire streets submerged beneath muddy, debris-filled water.
Deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council, Desmond McKenzie, warned that St. Elizabeth was “completely underwater.”
Around 530,000 people are without electricity, and emergency responders are struggling to reach communities cut off by landslides, fallen trees, and destroyed roads.
AccuWeather’s Chief Meteorologist, Jonathan Porter, painted a grim picture for the coming days, warning that people in western Jamaica could be stranded “for days or even weeks” as cleanup operations begin.
Rescue Efforts Delayed as Jamaica Struggles to Recover
Prime Minister Andrew Holness admitted that the country’s infrastructure simply wasn’t built to withstand a Category 5 storm.
He said that while rescue teams have managed to reach eastern parts of the island, devastated western regions may not see help for several more days.
“There’s no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” Holness said, calling the coming weeks a test of speed and resilience. Officials have already confirmed at least seven deaths across the Caribbean, though they expect the number to rise once communication with remote areas is restored.
Tourists Trapped and Airports Closed
As many as 25,000 tourists remain stranded in Jamaica after airports were forced to shut down during the storm.
Among them are American newlyweds Kasydee and Hunter Bishop from Texas, who found themselves trapped in Montego Bay just days into their honeymoon.
Jamaica’s Minister of Education and Information, Dana Morris Dixon, urged calm, assuring that the government is working closely with hotels to ensure the safety of all tourists.
“We are keeping everyone as safe as possible,” she said.
Hospitals Damaged and Roads Destroyed
Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Council confirmed that four major hospitals suffered severe damage, with one losing power and forcing the evacuation of 75 patients.
Entire communities are trapped by rising waters, with rescue crews unable to reach them due to dangerous conditions.
“Roofs were flying off,” McKenzie reported. “We’re praying the weather calms down soon so we can get to those who are trapped.”
Preliminary estimates suggest that economic damage across Jamaica could exceed $22 billion, including destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Cuba Faces a Long, Fearful Night
While Jamaica begins the painful process of recovery, Cuba now faces the storm head-on.
Hurricane Melissa regained strength Tuesday night, climbing back to a Category 4 with winds and rain strong enough to flatten coastal regions.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel delivered an urgent address, calling it “the strongest storm ever to hit national territory.”
He urged citizens not to underestimate the storm’s power, warning, “It will be a very difficult night for all of Cuba.”
By Tuesday evening, more than 735,000 Cubans had evacuated their homes, taking shelter inland as waves as high as 20 feet pounded the coastline.
Destruction Spreads Across the Region
Images from across the Caribbean paint a picture of chaos and fear — flooded neighborhoods in Haiti, makeshift shelters inside schools, and families clinging to what little they have left.
In Kingston, officials even warned residents to stay alert for crocodiles displaced by the floodwaters.
Across the region, 15,000 Jamaicans are now in shelters, trying to find dry ground and hope amid the destruction.
The U.S. Promises to Help Jamaica Rebuild
As the world watches the devastation unfold, U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged support to Jamaica once cleanup efforts begin.
“On a humanitarian basis, we have to,” he said. “We’re prepared to move — it’s doing tremendous damage as we speak.”
Even he seemed stunned by the power of the storm, saying, “I’ve never seen that before.
I guess it can get that high, but I’ve never seen it.”
What Comes Next
For now, the Caribbean faces a long road to recovery.
With airports closed, power grids destroyed, and communities isolated, it could take weeks — even months — to rebuild what Hurricane Melissa tore apart.
Still, amid the devastation, there’s a sense of resilience.
As one Cuban evacuee told local media, “We’ve survived storms before, and we’ll do it again. We just have to hold on until the sun comes out.”
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