Home / Disasters and Accidents / Powerful Hurricane Melissa Devastates Eastern Cuba After Pummeling Jamaica
Powerful Hurricane Melissa Devastates Eastern Cuba After Pummeling Jamaica
29 Oct
Summary
- Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm
- Hundreds of thousands evacuated to shelters in Cuba ahead of the storm
- Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday with top winds of 185 mph, causing extensive damage
On October 29, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, made landfall in eastern Cuba near the city of Chivirico as a powerful Category 3 storm. The hurricane had already caused extensive damage in Jamaica on October 28, striking the island with top sustained winds of 185 mph.
In preparation for Melissa's arrival, hundreds of thousands of people in Cuba had been evacuated to shelters across the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas. The hurricane was expected to bring a storm surge of up to 12 feet and dump up to 20 inches of rain, leading to life-threatening flooding and numerous landslides.
As Melissa crossed the island, Cuban officials warned that the country would face a significant recovery effort. The hurricane could further worsen Cuba's ongoing economic crisis, which has already led to prolonged power blackouts, fuel shortages, and food shortages. The storm was also blamed for several deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
