Home / Disasters and Accidents / Satellite Images Capture Catastrophic Damage in Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
Satellite Images Capture Catastrophic Damage in Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
30 Oct
Summary
- Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, devastated Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti
- Black River, Jamaica reduced to a "mud pit" with widespread destruction
- Death toll reaches 25 in Haiti, 8 in Jamaica as rescue efforts continue
On October 30, 2025, satellite images captured the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm that ripped through the Caribbean earlier this week. The hurricane first made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28, before tearing through Cuba and wreaking havoc in Haiti.
The images show the town of Black River, St. Elizabeth, one of the worst-hit regions in Jamaica, reduced to a "mud pit" after a landslide blocked the main roads in and out. Roofs were torn from homes, and buildings, including the town's courthouse, library, and churches, were reduced to rubble. The parish mayor, Richard Solomon, described the conditions as "devastating" and "catastrophic," with the hospital and emergency services completely devastated by the storm.
Across the island, the death toll has reached 25 in Haiti and 8 in Jamaica, with rescue teams still searching for survivors in hard-to-reach areas. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who conducted an aerial tour of Black River, said the town has been "literally totally destroyed." The entire island of Jamaica has been declared a disaster area, and authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage and casualties.
As Hurricane Melissa continues its path through the Bahamas, the storm has been downgraded to a Category 2, but the impact on the region is expected to be significant. The United States has pledged to send rescue and response teams to assist in the recovery efforts across the Caribbean.
