Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday, causing significant destruction with “catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and storm surge,” according to the National Hurricane Center. Desmond McKenzie, who leads the government’s disaster response efforts, characterized the experience as one of the worst the country has faced during a press conference on Tuesday evening.
The hurricane made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, at approximately 1 p.m. ET as a Category 5 storm, boasting maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. After passing over the island, it moved slowly through the interior before heading back into the Caribbean Sea on a trajectory toward eastern Cuba.
Though assessments of the damage are still ongoing, initial reports indicate extensive flooding, structural damages, blocked roadways, and widespread power outages across Jamaica. McKenzie highlighted the parish of St. Elizabeth on the southern coast, describing it as “under water.”
Hurricane Melissa has been linked to at least seven fatalities. In Haiti, three individuals died due to the storm over the weekend, while a fourth person was reported dead in the Dominican Republic, where one individual remains missing. Jamaican authorities confirmed that at least three lives were lost ahead of Melissa’s arrival. As of Tuesday evening, no additional fatalities had been reported in Jamaica.
The storm is anticipated to make landfall in Cuba as an “extremely dangerous major hurricane” by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
As residents and officials grapple with the aftermath in Jamaica, their resilience and community spirit will play a key role in the recovery process.