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Powerful Hurricane Melissa Leaves Destruction Across Caribbean
31 Oct
Summary
- Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, made landfall in Jamaica, causing widespread damage
- At least 50 people killed across the region, with extensive flooding and infrastructure damage
- Estimated $48-52 billion in total economic losses across the western Caribbean
On November 1, 2025, the Caribbean region was reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall in the area. The Category 5 hurricane struck Jamaica on Tuesday, October 29th, causing catastrophic damage and leaving at least 19 people dead in the country.
In Haiti, which was not directly hit but suffered days of heavy rains, authorities reported 31 deaths and 20 people missing. The southern town of Petit-Goave was particularly hard-hit, with a river bursting its banks and claiming the lives of 23 people, including 10 children. Across the affected areas, homes, farmland, and infrastructure were severely damaged, and the risk of cholera outbreaks loomed.
Cuba also experienced extensive damage from Melissa, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, though no fatalities were reported. Hundreds of thousands were evacuated as the storm battered homes, roads, and crops.
Overall, the hurricane caused an estimated $48-52 billion in damage and economic losses across the western Caribbean, making it one of the costliest storms on record for the region. Relief efforts were underway, with humanitarian aid arriving in Jamaica and the military assisting in rescue and recovery operations. As the region grappled with the aftermath, experts warned that such powerful and destructive hurricanes would likely become more frequent due to the effects of climate change.
