"Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba Bury Themselves Under Devastating Hurricane Melissa"
As Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, thousands were left to dig out from under the rubble, wondering where they would call home next. In Jamaica, the rumble of chainsaws and machinery echoed through streets as residents and government workers worked tirelessly to clear roads and reach isolated communities that bore the brunt of the storm.
The island's southern parish of St. Elizabeth was particularly hard hit, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Sylvester Guthrie, a sanitation worker from Lacovia, was left holding onto his only possession – a bicycle – as he stared at the ruins of his home. "I don't have a house now," he said, his voice cracking with despair.
The Jamaican government has activated emergency relief efforts, distributing water, food, and basic supplies to those in need. But with 25,000 people still crowded into shelters across the island, many are struggling to cope. Prime Minister Andrew Holness described Black River as "Ground Zero," where up to 90 percent of roofs were destroyed.
In neighboring Haiti, the death toll has risen to at least 45, with 18 others reported missing. The storm surge left widespread flooding and destruction in its wake, with over 160 homes damaged or destroyed. Steven Guadard's family was among those killed, leaving him with four young children to care for alone.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, the government has mobilized the military to assist with relief efforts. Despite widespread damage, officials say the rains have brought much-needed water to reservoirs and eased a severe drought in eastern Cuba. However, many communities remain without power, internet, or telephone service due to downed transformers and power lines.
As Hurricane Melissa continues to move north-northeast at 33 kph, its path is expected to bring devastation to the southeastern Bahamas and Bermuda. The storm made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in Jamaica on Tuesday, tying records for Atlantic hurricanes making landfall in terms of wind speed and barometric pressure. It has since weakened to a Category 2 storm, but its impact will be felt for days to come.
For those affected by Hurricane Melissa, the road to recovery will be long and arduous. As one resident in Jamaica put it, "We are starting from zero."
As Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, thousands were left to dig out from under the rubble, wondering where they would call home next. In Jamaica, the rumble of chainsaws and machinery echoed through streets as residents and government workers worked tirelessly to clear roads and reach isolated communities that bore the brunt of the storm.
The island's southern parish of St. Elizabeth was particularly hard hit, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Sylvester Guthrie, a sanitation worker from Lacovia, was left holding onto his only possession – a bicycle – as he stared at the ruins of his home. "I don't have a house now," he said, his voice cracking with despair.
The Jamaican government has activated emergency relief efforts, distributing water, food, and basic supplies to those in need. But with 25,000 people still crowded into shelters across the island, many are struggling to cope. Prime Minister Andrew Holness described Black River as "Ground Zero," where up to 90 percent of roofs were destroyed.
In neighboring Haiti, the death toll has risen to at least 45, with 18 others reported missing. The storm surge left widespread flooding and destruction in its wake, with over 160 homes damaged or destroyed. Steven Guadard's family was among those killed, leaving him with four young children to care for alone.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, the government has mobilized the military to assist with relief efforts. Despite widespread damage, officials say the rains have brought much-needed water to reservoirs and eased a severe drought in eastern Cuba. However, many communities remain without power, internet, or telephone service due to downed transformers and power lines.
As Hurricane Melissa continues to move north-northeast at 33 kph, its path is expected to bring devastation to the southeastern Bahamas and Bermuda. The storm made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in Jamaica on Tuesday, tying records for Atlantic hurricanes making landfall in terms of wind speed and barometric pressure. It has since weakened to a Category 2 storm, but its impact will be felt for days to come.
For those affected by Hurricane Melissa, the road to recovery will be long and arduous. As one resident in Jamaica put it, "We are starting from zero."
this is so sad... 25k ppl stuck in shelters in jamaica already? 
and 45 deaths in haiti? 
how can anyone expect them to recover fast enough from this hurricane melissa? 
it's like the storm just kept coming and coming. 
i feel for all those people who lost their homes, their livelihoods... everything. 
gotta keep an eye on these countries and make sure they get the help they need ASAP! 
Can't we have more than just a simple "like" or "share" button at the end of these articles? It feels like we're just getting fed the news, not actually participating in it. 
. Jamaica's southern parish of St. Elizabeth got hit hard, and I can only imagine how tough it must be for the ppl there, diggin' out from under rubble and not knowin' where they'll live next 
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. And on top of that, Black River got hit like Ground Zero... 90% of roofs destroyed, wow 
️.
its so frustrating when the government says "we're doing everything we can" but actually not much is being done 
anyway i hope the relief efforts are helping and that everyone gets back on their feet soon 
just heard about hurricane melissa...it's like they're trying to make our world a worst place ever first caribbean islands hit by a category 5 hurricane now thousands are homeless and at least 45 people dead in haiti that's way too much 
... but at the same time, I think they're really struggling to cope with the sheer scale of the disaster 
.
I mean, water and food for people who really need it. But at the same time, power outages and internet disruptions are no joke 
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, but Jamaica & Haiti gettin roasted by nature itself 
. the fact that entire neighborhoods are reduced to rubble is just... wow 
. but i do think 25,000 people stuck in shelters for days on end? that's not okay 
. we need to get them back on their feet ASAP.
I'd love to see some footages or videos of the destruction before and after the storm. It sounds like a massive disaster, but without solid sources, it's hard to get a clear picture of what's really going on. 
Have there been any reports from local journalists or independent news outlets that can provide an alternative perspective? 
gotta dig up some sources on what's really going down here
this is just devastating... i mean, what can u do when a hurricane comes out of nowhere like that? 25k people stuck in shelters, families lost their homes... 45 deaths in Haiti already and it's not even over yet. Jamaica & Cuba are struggling too... i feel so bad for those ppl who lost everything. the fact that Jamaica's southern parish was like "ground zero" is just heartbreaking. and what about those 4 kids left alone after their family got killed? 
. I mean, 45 dead in Haiti already? 
️. It's always someone else's problem in times of disaster 
.