Home / Disasters and Accidents / Retired Couple Vanish After Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica
Retired Couple Vanish After Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica
1 Nov
Summary
- Retired couple from Ontario, Canada lost contact during Hurricane Melissa
- Couple was hiding under their home as the roof blew off
- Family fears for their safety and has not heard from them in days
On 2025-11-01T06:24:45+00:00, a retired Canadian couple, Richard and Dianne Kitching, were caught in the path of the devastating Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. The Kitchings had moved to the island from Ontario after retiring, but their island dreams have now turned into a nightmare.
As Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, tore through Jamaica, the Kitchings' home lost its roof. The couple took shelter underneath their concrete porch, but they soon lost contact with their son, Jason, and daughter-in-law, Jeanine. In a frantic call, the Kitchings had told their son that the winds were increasing dramatically, and then the line went dead.
For days, the Kitchings' family has been waiting anxiously to hear if the retirees are safe. They do not know if Richard and Dianne have access to food, water, or a safe place to rest. The devastation across Jamaica is extensive, and officials estimate it could take years for the island to recover from the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Melissa.
Despite the grim situation, the Kitchings' family is holding out hope that the resourceful couple has found a way to survive the storm. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the Kitchings rebuild their home and replace their belongings once they are located.
