Meteorologists recorded wind speeds close to 300 km/h and an atmospheric pressure of 892 millibars—matching the 1935 record. (Photo: NYT)
Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm in nearly a century, has left widespread devastation across the Caribbean. The powerful Category 5 hurricane made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday after battering Jamaica, killing at least 29 people in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Melissa is the most intense storm to hit the region since the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. Meteorologists recorded wind speeds close to 300 km/h and an atmospheric pressure of 892 millibars—matching the 1935 record.
Jamaica was hit hardest as the hurricane roared through the island on Tuesday. The government declared the country a “disaster zone” after the storm destroyed homes, uprooted trees, and flooded towns.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that although the country has suffered massive losses, the people will recover stronger than before.
“Tonight I encourage Jamaicans to be hopeful. I know many, especially those in the worst affected parishes, are feeling disheartened. Your homes may have been damaged or destroyed and your communities and towns no longer look the same. I know your pain and I feel your loss. We are mobilizing quickly to start the relief and recovery efforts and we will be there with you every step of the way,” he wrote in a post on X.
Authorities confirmed that three people died in Jamaica. Two were killed by falling trees while preparing for the storm, and one person was electrocuted.
Cuba also faced the full impact of Hurricane Melissa on Wednesday. The government evacuated about 735,000 people from their homes before the storm struck.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel had earlier warned that the hurricane could cause “significant damage” and urged everyone to follow evacuation orders. After the storm made landfall, he said Cuba had suffered “extensive damage” but assured citizens that recovery efforts would begin immediately.
“It will be a very difficult night for all of Cuba, but we will recover,” the President said in a message on X.
The deadly hurricane also hit Haiti and the Dominican Republic, killing at least 26 people combined. In Haiti, 25 people lost their lives after the La Digue river overflowed and flooded homes in the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve, according to Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème.
Authorities across the region have urged residents to remain alert as the storm continues moving northeast toward the Bahamas. The Bahamian government has already ordered evacuations in southern areas to prevent further loss of life.
Hurricane Melissa has become the strongest and deadliest storm to hit the Caribbean in 90 years. With its 300 km/h winds and catastrophic rainfall, the hurricane has left thousands homeless and entire communities in ruins.
As rescue and recovery operations continue, leaders across the Caribbean have promised to rebuild and support those affected by the historic disaster.
