Powerful Hurricane Melissa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Jamaica

In late October 2025, a devastating hurricane named Melissa slammed into Jamaica, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The powerful Category 5 storm, which tied for the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, made landfall in the southwestern part of the Caribbean nation, becoming the strongest hurricane to directly hit the country's shores in decades.

The hurricane's impact was severe, with authorities confirming at least 19 deaths and hundreds of thousands left without power. Melissa ripped roofs off buildings, uprooted trees, and scattered debris across the country, prompting a massive search and rescue operation by the Jamaican military. The storm also caused extensive damage to homes and crops, with the forecaster estimating between $48 billion to $52 billion in total damage and economic loss across the western Caribbean.

The hurricane's effects were not limited to Jamaica, as neighboring countries like Haiti and Cuba also suffered from the storm's impact. In Haiti, at least 25 people were killed, while in Cuba, over 735,000 people were evacuated to shelters, and hundreds of communities remained isolated without communication.

As the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating hurricane, authorities in Jamaica are working tirelessly to restore power, clear roads, and provide aid to the affected areas. The resilience of the Jamaican people will be tested, but with the support of the international community, the country is poised to recover and rebuild in the wake of this historic storm.