KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Caribbean is counting its dead and surveying a trail of “catastrophic” destruction this week, as Hurricane Melissa—one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record—churns away after pummeling multiple islands. In Jamaica, the extent of the tragedy is beginning to emerge, with four deaths confirmed in the devastated southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, bringing the total loss of life across the region to dozens.
The Category 5 hurricane, which made landfall on Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of a record-tying 185 mph (295 kph), turned large swathes of Jamaica into a disaster zone. Early damage assessments paint a bleak picture of an island battered by wind, relentless rain, and life-threatening storm surges.
St. Elizabeth: Ground Zero for Loss
The most immediate tragedy has unfolded in the low-lying, coastal areas of St. Elizabeth, officially Jamaica’s “bread basket,” which was left largely “underwater,” according to local officials.
“I am saddened to announce that four persons—three men and one woman—have been confirmed dead by the police in St. Elizabeth. They were discovered after being washed up by the flood waters generated by the hurricane,” said Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister for Local Government, detailing the confirmed fatalities.
Earlier reports indicated that Melissa was also blamed for three deaths in Jamaica before landfall, as residents attempted to prepare for the unprecedented storm.
The destruction in the parish has been total in many areas. Mayor Richard Solomon of Black River, St. Elizabeth, was quoted pleading for aid, stating, “Catastrophic is a mild term based on what we are observing.” Reports highlight:
- Widespread structural failure: Roofs ripped off homes, businesses, and public buildings, including a high school used as a shelter.
- Total Communication Blackout: Damage to power grids and infrastructure has complicated rescue and damage assessment efforts, leaving large areas isolated. An estimated 77% of the island remains without power.
- Inundation: Extensive flooding and landslides have blocked major roads, trapping families and rendering local emergency services inoperable.
Regional Crisis: A Caribbean in Mourning
While Jamaica struggles to find its footing, the wider Caribbean is also grappling with a significant humanitarian crisis.
- Haiti has reported the highest number of casualties, with official death tolls fluctuating but placing the loss of life at least in the dozens. Most fatalities have been attributed to massive flooding, which caused the La Digue River to overflow and collapse dozens of homes in the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve.
- Cuba saw massive evacuations of over 700,000 residents as Melissa struck its eastern provinces as an extremely dangerous major hurricane. Early reports indicate widespread destruction, including collapsed houses and blocked mountain roads.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, has described the island as a “disaster area,” stressing that recovery will be a long and arduous process. International aid agencies, including the UN and the Red Cross, have mobilized, pre-positioning relief supplies and dispatching assessment teams as soon as conditions permit.
As a slow-moving storm that has lingered over the region, Melissa delivered a brutal, one-two punch of record-breaking wind speed and torrential rainfall, with up to a meter (40 inches) of rain forecast in some areas. For millions across the Caribbean, the passing of the storm is merely the beginning of a devastating recovery.