Home / Disasters and Accidents / Melissa's Wrath: Widespread Destruction Reported Across Caribbean
Melissa's Wrath: Widespread Destruction Reported Across Caribbean
29 Oct
Summary
- Hurricane Melissa leaves "extensive damage" in Cuba after pummeling Jamaica
- Over 700,000 people evacuated in Cuba as Melissa brings powerful winds and heavy rain
- Thousands of tourists stranded in Jamaica as airports and infrastructure suffer major damage
On October 29, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, has been wreaking havoc across the Caribbean. After making landfall in Jamaica on October 28th, Melissa left a trail of catastrophic damage in its wake. The town of Black River was particularly hard hit, with reports of entire communities submerged and historic buildings like the St. John Parish Anglican Church destroyed.
As Melissa moved on to Cuba, the island nation also experienced "extensive damage," according to President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Over 700,000 people were evacuated to shelters as the storm brought its powerful winds and epic rainfall. The situation remains dire, with ongoing flooding, landslides, and power outages across the region.
The impacts of Melissa are far from over. Thousands of tourists remain stranded in Jamaica, as the country's major airports suffered significant damage. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are also bracing for the storm's wrath, with the potential for life-threatening storm surge and flooding rainfall. Disaster response teams have been deployed to the Caribbean to aid in the recovery efforts, but the road ahead will be long and challenging for the affected communities.
