The Caribbean is reeling from the impact of **Hurricane Melissa**, the most powerful storm of the 2025 Atlantic season. After delivering a catastrophic blow to Jamaica as a record-breaking Category 5 storm, Melissa made a second devastating landfall in Cuba, continuing its destructive path.
The full scale of the damage across the region is still emerging, with large parts of Jamaica isolated, power cut, and the overall death toll rising.
Jamaica Declared Disaster Area After Record Category 5 Strike
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in **Jamaica yesterday around 1 p.m. ET** as an extremely rare and devastating **Category 5** hurricane. It is being described as the **strongest hurricane to strike the island in recorded history**.
- Catastrophic Impact: Prime Minister **Andrew Holness** declared the entire island a **disaster area**. Reports indicate the damage is extensive, with the hard-hit **St. Elizabeth Parish** reported to be “underwater.”
- Infrastructure Collapse: The Category 5 winds and massive storm surge caused widespread infrastructure damage. Officials confirmed that roughly **77% of the island was left without power**.
- Casualties: At least **three hurricane-related deaths** have been confirmed in Jamaica, tragically occurring during preparations ahead of the storm’s arrival. This toll is feared to rise as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated communities.
Melissa Slams Cuba as “Extremely Dangerous” Category 3
After crossing Jamaica and weakening slightly due to land interaction, Melissa maintained its major hurricane status and continued its path toward Cuba.
- Landfall: Melissa made landfall in Cuba this morning as an **”extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane**, striking near the city of **Chivirico** in the province of Santiago de Cuba with sustained winds of **120 mph**.
- Massive Evacuations: Cuban authorities took extensive cautionary measures, reportedly evacuating over **735,000 residents** from coastal and mountainous regions in anticipation of destructive winds and life-threatening storm surge.
- Threat: Cuba’s mountainous terrain is highly susceptible to **catastrophic flash flooding and landslides** from the forecasted heavy rain.
Wider Caribbean Toll and Humanitarian Threat
Melissa’s slow and erratic movement resulted in widespread disruption and fatalities across neighboring islands.
| Region | Confirmed Deaths | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 3 | Island declared disaster area; widespread power loss. |
| Haiti | 3 | Major flooding and infrastructure damage. |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | Reported accident during storm preparations. |
The storm track indicates that Melissa is expected to cause heavy rainfall, between **5 to 10 inches**, and significant flooding across the **southeast Bahamas** as it moves over the Atlantic. NBC News correspondent **George Solis** is reporting live from Kingston, Jamaica, as relief efforts begin.
Experts are calling Melissa’s intensity “extraordinary,” noting that the storm underwent **extreme rapid intensification**, fueled by abnormally warm ocean waters. International aid agencies, including the Red Cross and UN, are mobilizing to provide essential supplies, including food and clean water, once air travel is possible.
