At least 19 people have lost their lives in Jamaica due to Hurricane Melissa, according to Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon. The situation is severe. Many areas are cut off, and entire communities have been flattened. In western Jamaica, scenes of destruction are particularly alarming.
Electricity is out for most of the island. People are dealing with flood damage while desperately seeking aid. Water supply issues are growing; some regions haven’t had water for days, and food is becoming harder to find.
Aid is starting to arrive more quickly now. Kingston’s main airport is functioning again, but smaller airports near the worst-hit areas still have limited operations. Aid agencies, along with the military, are transporting supplies from Kingston to these regions, though many roads are damaged and impassable.
Satellite images reveal that many buildings in certain villages have been completely destroyed. Residents in western Jamaica are devastated. Trevor ‘Zyanigh’ Whyte from Westmoreland expressed the despair, stating that communication has been nearly impossible. “Every tree is on the road,” he noted, making travel difficult even on bicycles.
In Haiti, the storm’s impact was also tragic. Many victims died when a river overflowed in Petit-Goave, and authorities are still trying to assess the full extent of the damage. Over 15,000 people are staying in more than 120 shelters in Haiti following the storm.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, more than 3 million residents faced life-threatening conditions during Melissa. With 735,000 people evacuated, fortunately, no fatalities have been reported there. However, around 240 communities are cut off due to heavy flooding and landslides.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a category five storm, with winds reaching up to 185 mph (295 km/h). Governments and organizations worldwide are coming together to support those affected. The World Food Programme is working with partners to coordinate logistics and deliver emergency supplies in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
The US State Department is sending a disaster response team to assist with search and rescue. They are also providing food, water, medical supplies, and hygiene kits. In another effort, the UK government has pledged an additional £5 million ($6 million) for humanitarian aid, including shelter kits and solar lanterns for those without power.
While Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti are assessing the damage, Bermuda is preparing for the hurricane’s approach. The Bermuda Weather Service predicts it will be a category two storm when it passes Thursday night. Government offices and schools are closing as a precaution, urging residents to stay off the roads until the storm passes.
This hurricane isn’t just about immediate destruction; it also raises questions about how vulnerable these regions are to climate change. Many experts argue that storms like Melissa will become more common and intense due to rising sea temperatures. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hurricanes are already becoming stronger, and this trend is likely to continue.
In this challenging time, it’s crucial to learn from these events and prepare better for the future. The support coming in from around the world is heartening, but the road to recovery will be long. You can read more details on the impacts of climate change on hurricanes from institutes like NOAA here.
