Powerful Hurricane Melissa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Caribbean, Threatens Bermuda

On October 30, 2025, Hurricane Melissa slammed through the northern Caribbean, leaving a path of high winds and destruction from Jamaica to Cuba and Haiti. The powerful storm, which was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, is now seen picking up speed as it churns across the open ocean towards Bermuda.

Authorities across the region have confirmed 25 deaths in Haiti, including 10 children, and 4 deaths in Jamaica. The storm also pummeled the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, with the government evacuating nearly 1,500 people as a precaution.

In Bermuda, residents are preparing for Melissa's arrival, expected by the evening of October 30th. The government has closed the causeway and announced the closure of schools and ferries on Friday as a safety measure.

Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday as the strongest hurricane to ever directly hit the island, with sustained winds of 185 mph. In the Montego Bay area, 77-year-old Alfred Hines narrowly escaped the rising floodwaters, wading barefoot through thick mud and debris.

Across eastern Cuba, authorities evacuated around 735,000 people as the storm approached. In Haiti, the storm did not directly hit the country but lashed it with days of rain, leading to floods that killed at least 25 people, mostly in the coastal town of Petit-Goave.

Scientists say hurricanes are intensifying faster with greater frequency due to warming ocean waters caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Many Caribbean leaders have called for reparations in the form of aid or debt relief from wealthy, heavy-polluting nations to help with the region's recovery efforts.