Brits Trapped in Jamaican Hotel as Hurricane Melissa Barrels Towards Caribbean

On October 28, 2025, a powerful Category 5 hurricane named Melissa is barreling towards the Caribbean island of Jamaica. According to the latest reports, at least 200 British tourists are currently "locked down" in a Jamaican hotel as the deadly storm approaches.

Melissa has been ranked at the highest possible rating on the Saffir-Simpson strength scale, with sustained winds exceeding 157 mph. The hurricane has already battered the neighboring islands of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, killing at least six people and displacing thousands. Now, Jamaica is bracing for the storm's impact, which is expected to hit the island overnight or in the early hours of Tuesday.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has warned that the government has "declared the entire island a threatened area" and that the country is likely to experience "hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding." Shelters have been opened, emergency teams are on standby, and over $400 million has been allocated for preparedness and relief efforts.

One of the British holidaymakers, Andrew Tracey, who arrived in Jamaica last Monday, says he has been confined to his hotel room until at least Wednesday. With flights, including his own, being cancelled, Tracey estimates that there are at least 200 other Brits at his hotel. Jamaica's two international airports have been closed since Sunday, leaving the stranded tourists with no immediate way to leave the island.

"If I knew that the hurricane would hit while I was out here, I wouldn't have gone at all," Tracey told Sky News. "It's hard to comprehend what we're about to expect. I've never experienced any kind of hurricane, let alone a Category 5."