Hurricane Melissa has claimed at least 49 lives across the northern Caribbean after tearing through several islands this week, leaving behind a trail of destruction before moving past Bermuda as a Category 2 storm late Thursday.
Authorities in Haiti reported at least 30 deaths and 20 people missing, as days of torrential rain triggered floods even though the storm did not make direct landfall. In the southern town of Petit-Goave, 23 people including 10 children were killed when a river burst its banks, washing away homes, roads and farmlands.
In Jamaica, officials confirmed 19 deaths and warned that the toll could rise as search and rescue operations continue. The storm, which hit the island as a Category 5 hurricane on Tuesday, was the strongest to make landfall in Jamaica since 1988, with winds well above 250 km/h.
Jamaica’s military has recalled reserve personnel to support relief efforts, while hundreds of thousands remain without power. More than 130 roads across the island are still blocked by debris and downed power lines, forcing rescue teams to clear paths on foot.
Satellite images showed widespread destruction in coastal areas, with homes flattened and trees stripped bare. In Montego Bay, 77-year-old Alfred Hines described his narrow escape:
“At one stage, I see the water at my waist, and after about 10 minutes, it was around my neck. I just made my escape,” he told Reuters.
Energy Minister Daryl Vaz said over 70% of Jamaica’s power grid remained down as of Thursday morning. Relief flights and aid have begun arriving in Kingston as the airport and port reopened.
In Cuba, the government confirmed no fatalities but said 735,000 people had been evacuated ahead of the storm, which hit the island’s east as a Category 3 hurricane, damaging homes and farmlands. Over 240 communities remain isolated.
Forecasters at AccuWeather estimated total economic losses from Hurricane Melissa at between $48 billion and $52 billion, making it one of the costliest storms in Caribbean history. The hurricane also ranks among the top three most intense on record in the region.
Also Read: Hurricane Melissa Heads for Cuba After Record Jamaica Landfall
As the storm moved past Bermuda, authorities there closed schools, ferries and the main causeway “out of an abundance of caution.”
In the Bahamas, officials lifted storm warnings but stopped short of declaring an “all clear.” Hundreds of evacuees remain displaced as authorities assess damage.
Scientists have warned that climate change is causing hurricanes to intensify more rapidly and move more slowly, increasing their destructive impact. Caribbean leaders have renewed calls for wealthier nations to provide climate reparations and strengthen disaster relief funds.
The United States announced it would deploy search and rescue teams to Jamaica, while also offering humanitarian assistance to Cuba. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was ready to provide “immediate humanitarian aid.”
Cuban officials said they were awaiting clarification on the form of U.S. assistance but confirmed damage assessments were ongoing in Santiago Province, where thousands of homes were affected.
Despite early warnings and large-scale evacuations, Hurricane Melissa’s slow movement and record-breaking intensity left vast stretches of the Caribbean struggling to recover a grim reminder of the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events.
