Residents in Jamaica are living through one of the country's most terrifying storms yet, Hurricane Melissa, with residents describing their terror as the storm ripped roofs off buildings and cut power to nearly a third of the population.
The Category 3 hurricane made landfall on Tuesday afternoon near the town of New Hope, Jamaica, bringing powerful winds that left many in a state of panic. "The doors are being blown off by the wind," said Kabien, a mother-of-three who runs a beauty salon in Santa Cruz. "I am trying to use my own manpower to stop the wind blowing in the door."
As the storm battered the island, tourists and locals alike were hunkering down, many barricading themselves indoors as the powerful winds and torrential rain threatened to cause catastrophic damage. The windows of their hotel had been smashed by high winds, leaving them feeling "stuck in limbo" with limited information from airlines.
Damion, a computer scientist living in Kingston, described waking up on Tuesday morning to winds so strong they were almost impossible to stand up against. His neighborhood was eerily quiet, as if the birds had all flown away. Simon Johnson, 33, who lives just a few hundred meters from Jamaica's famous harbor, said he was feeling anxious as the storm approached.
Despite warnings from officials to cover themselves with mattresses, move to indoor rooms and wear helmets, many residents are still venturing out into the storm. The Foreign Office has advised Britons in Jamaica to follow local authority advice, "especially in the event of any evacuation orders."
As Hurricane Melissa moves towards Cuba and then the Bahamas, residents are bracing for more severe weather. The island nation's health officials have warned that flooding could displace crocodiles from their natural dwellings.
The storm has brought out the worst of human nature, with many residents taking to social media to share their fears and concerns about the unfolding disaster. One local resident described being "petrified" as her hotel was hit by high winds and heavy rain. Another reported seeing a roof torn off a nearby building as he watched in horror.
As the storm rages on, residents are holding onto hope that it will soon pass, but for now, they're left to face their fears and wait out the tempest.
The Category 3 hurricane made landfall on Tuesday afternoon near the town of New Hope, Jamaica, bringing powerful winds that left many in a state of panic. "The doors are being blown off by the wind," said Kabien, a mother-of-three who runs a beauty salon in Santa Cruz. "I am trying to use my own manpower to stop the wind blowing in the door."
As the storm battered the island, tourists and locals alike were hunkering down, many barricading themselves indoors as the powerful winds and torrential rain threatened to cause catastrophic damage. The windows of their hotel had been smashed by high winds, leaving them feeling "stuck in limbo" with limited information from airlines.
Damion, a computer scientist living in Kingston, described waking up on Tuesday morning to winds so strong they were almost impossible to stand up against. His neighborhood was eerily quiet, as if the birds had all flown away. Simon Johnson, 33, who lives just a few hundred meters from Jamaica's famous harbor, said he was feeling anxious as the storm approached.
Despite warnings from officials to cover themselves with mattresses, move to indoor rooms and wear helmets, many residents are still venturing out into the storm. The Foreign Office has advised Britons in Jamaica to follow local authority advice, "especially in the event of any evacuation orders."
As Hurricane Melissa moves towards Cuba and then the Bahamas, residents are bracing for more severe weather. The island nation's health officials have warned that flooding could displace crocodiles from their natural dwellings.
The storm has brought out the worst of human nature, with many residents taking to social media to share their fears and concerns about the unfolding disaster. One local resident described being "petrified" as her hotel was hit by high winds and heavy rain. Another reported seeing a roof torn off a nearby building as he watched in horror.
As the storm rages on, residents are holding onto hope that it will soon pass, but for now, they're left to face their fears and wait out the tempest.
Hurricane Melissa is literally tearing apart Jamaica right now! I mean, i know i'm a time traveler and all, but even i've seen some crazy storms in my day... like that one with Katrina back in 2005... 
anyway, back to hurricane melissa... it's like, the whole island is getting smashed by powerful winds and torrential rain. people are literally stuck indoors, trying to survive. 
i feel so bad for them. and poor kabien, a mother-of-three who has to run her beauty salon in this mess... 
. anyway, my thoughts are with everyone affected by hurricane melissa... 
send them love, food, and shelter! 
. It's like a nightmare come true, with winds so strong they're ripping roofs off buildings and power lines are snapping everywhere 
. I feel bad for all these poor folks who are stuck in their homes with no electricity or running water 
. And it's not just the physical danger that's worrying them – it's also the uncertainty of when this storm will pass and if there'll be any damage to their homes or livelihoods 
. I hope everyone stays safe and that the authorities can do a good job of helping those in need 
.
. I'm not a fan of hurricanes at all, they just seem so unpredictable. I mean, one minute everything is fine, and the next it's like a war zone 
.
. The fact that people are taking to social media to share their fears and concerns shows how much of an impact this storm is having on people's lives 
. It's just a reminder that nature can be really cruel sometimes, but I hope everyone stays safe and gets through this eventually 
.
. And on top of all that, health officials are warning about crocodiles being displaced from their habitats... like, yikes! 
.
. And don't even get me started on these mattresses and helmets they're supposed to wear... like that's gonna save anyone. It's always something, innit? One minute it's AI taking over the world, the next it's hurricanes ripping roofs off buildings. Can we just enjoy a simple day without some catastrophe or other for once? 
. But on the bright side, it's crazy to think about how people are comin' together on social media to share their fears & support each other 
. And can we talk about the tech situation? It's like, the Foreign Office is sendin' out these warnings and updates, but many ppl aren't gettin' 'em, especially in areas with no power 
. Anywayz, gotta keep it positive & hope this storm passes soon 
!
like what are they thinking?!?! 
anyway, i hope everyone in Jamaica stays safe and dry. poor people who lost their roofs 
. We gotta stick together during times like these 
.
And ain't nobody got time for that 
, all them roofs flyin off buildings & ppl stuck in their hotel rooms w/ nothin' but the wind & rain to keep 'em company 
The fact that nearly a third of the population lost power is just devastating... 650,000 people are affected, that's like, what, 20% of Jamaica's population? 
The social media posts from residents are heartbreaking... I'm seeing images of people huddled together in fear, others stranded without power or water... 
like what r they even thinkin?! Shouldn't everyone be hunkered down s safe? 
And omg, roofs being blown off buildings is wild 
I mean I've seen some crazy storms in my time but this one takes the cake...or should I say, it's more like a destroyed cake because of the damage