Catastrophic Devastation Hits Caribbean Islands as Hurricane Melissa Unleashes Fury
The northern Caribbean has been left reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which brought with it a trail of destruction and chaos. The storm, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record, made landfall in Jamaica and Cuba, leaving a swath of devastation in its wake.
In Jamaica, residents are emerging from their homes to survey the damage, with many left homeless after their roofs were torn off by the storm's powerful winds. "I don't have a house now," said Sylvester Guthrie, a resident of Lacovia, as he clutched onto his bicycle, the only possession he had left. "I have land in another location that I can build back, but I'm going to need help."
The Jamaican government has declared a state of emergency and is working to distribute food, water, and other basic supplies to those affected by the storm. The country's Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, described Black River as "Ground Zero," with up to 90% of roofs destroyed in the southwest coastal community.
In Haiti, at least 25 people have been killed and 18 others are missing, mostly in the southern region. Steven Guadard, who lost his entire family, said Melissa "killed my whole world." The storm also damaged over 160 homes and destroyed 80 others, leaving hundreds without electricity or access to basic necessities.
Cuba, too, has been severely affected by Melissa, with widespread power outages, phone disruptions, and landslides reported. While no fatalities were reported, officials warned that 152 disabled people needed emergency food assistance, and over 11,600 people remained sheltered due to the storm.
As the full extent of the damage becomes clear, relief efforts are underway, with emergency flights arriving at Jamaica's main international airport, where supplies have been distributed. In Cuba, residents were seen clearing blocked roads and highways with heavy equipment, while the military continued to rescue those trapped in isolated communities at risk from landslides.
The storm has also had a significant impact on agricultural production, with banana, cassava, and coffee plantations reported to be among those affected. The good news is that the rains brought by Melissa have helped ease a severe drought in eastern Cuba.
As Hurricane Melissa continues to move north-northeast at 33 kph, residents are bracing for more disruptions. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas and Bermuda, with dozens of people evacuated from areas affected by the storm.
The northern Caribbean has been left reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which brought with it a trail of destruction and chaos. The storm, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record, made landfall in Jamaica and Cuba, leaving a swath of devastation in its wake.
In Jamaica, residents are emerging from their homes to survey the damage, with many left homeless after their roofs were torn off by the storm's powerful winds. "I don't have a house now," said Sylvester Guthrie, a resident of Lacovia, as he clutched onto his bicycle, the only possession he had left. "I have land in another location that I can build back, but I'm going to need help."
The Jamaican government has declared a state of emergency and is working to distribute food, water, and other basic supplies to those affected by the storm. The country's Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, described Black River as "Ground Zero," with up to 90% of roofs destroyed in the southwest coastal community.
In Haiti, at least 25 people have been killed and 18 others are missing, mostly in the southern region. Steven Guadard, who lost his entire family, said Melissa "killed my whole world." The storm also damaged over 160 homes and destroyed 80 others, leaving hundreds without electricity or access to basic necessities.
Cuba, too, has been severely affected by Melissa, with widespread power outages, phone disruptions, and landslides reported. While no fatalities were reported, officials warned that 152 disabled people needed emergency food assistance, and over 11,600 people remained sheltered due to the storm.
As the full extent of the damage becomes clear, relief efforts are underway, with emergency flights arriving at Jamaica's main international airport, where supplies have been distributed. In Cuba, residents were seen clearing blocked roads and highways with heavy equipment, while the military continued to rescue those trapped in isolated communities at risk from landslides.
The storm has also had a significant impact on agricultural production, with banana, cassava, and coffee plantations reported to be among those affected. The good news is that the rains brought by Melissa have helped ease a severe drought in eastern Cuba.
As Hurricane Melissa continues to move north-northeast at 33 kph, residents are bracing for more disruptions. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas and Bermuda, with dozens of people evacuated from areas affected by the storm.
I'm so sorry to hear about all the destruction in the Caribbean 
it's crazy how one big storm can cause so much chaos & devastation. I feel bad for all those ppl who lost their homes 
and loved ones 
especially in Jamaica & Haiti, where they're dealing with such a massive crisis 
the Jamaican govt is doing its best to help ppl get back on their feet, but it's clear they need more support 
Cuba's situation is also worrying, especially with 152 disabled people needing emergency food assistance 
. We gotta do everything we can to help these communities recover & rebuild 
80% of the roofs in black river were destroyed... thats just crazy 
u can feel the pain in those vids u know? anyway, lets hope the gov & ppl come together to help each other out 
the world's most beautiful islands just got a face full of destruction from hurricane melissa 
. also, who needs electricity when you can have rain 
? btw, at least the good news about the drought in eastern cuba 
might help ease things a bit 
.
i mean i feel for jamaica & cuba & haiti they're all goin thru so much already but then u gotta have a hurricane come along & just wreak havoc on 'em it's not fair 
still, 152 people need emergency food assistance and 11k+ ppl are sheltered - that's just heartbreaking 
can we please just send help already? 
and the impact on agriculture in cuba? i hope they get the aid they need ASAP... it's not just about the physical destruction, it's also the human toll... 
anyway, my thoughts are with those affected by melissa, hope they get the help they need ASAP 