Hurricane Melissa leaves dozens dead and unprecedented destruction in the Caribbean news

Hurricane Melissa left dozens of deaths and widespread destruction in several countries in the Caribbean, the latest of which was Cuba, which struck on Wednesday, and is then expected to head to the Bahamas and the area surrounding Bermuda.

The total number of victims in the Caribbean region as a whole is not yet clear, but deaths have been reported in Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Panama.

According to the Associated Press, at least 25 people died in Haiti as a result of floods resulting from Hurricane Melissa.

For its part, the Cuban authorities announced the evacuation of about 735,000 people from their homes in the east of the country, especially in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo.

A resident of Santiago, Cuba’s second largest city, wrote on Facebook: “The floods are overwhelming us all.”

Hurricane Melissa causes damage to homes and infrastructure in the city of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, and the city police open their stations to residents whose homes were flooded.#video pic.twitter.com/oVSeAtAcui

– Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) October 29, 2025

In Santiago de Cuba, emergency teams tried to rescue 17 people trapped due to rising water levels and landslides, according to official media.

The US National Hurricane Center reported that “Hurricane Melissa, which is very dangerous, has reached the southeastern coast of Cuba.”

Melissa’s intensity ranged between categories three and five, which is the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, and its wind speed exceeded 200 kilometers per hour, according to the American Center.

Massive destruction in Jamaica

Meanwhile, news continues about the extent of the severe damage caused by the hurricane in Jamaica, after it was classified as the strongest hurricane in history to hit this island.

The United Nations Coordinator in the Caribbean, Dennis Zulu, said, “What we know so far is massive, unprecedented destruction at the level of infrastructure and property, roads, communications and energy networks.” He pointed out that residents are staying in shelters throughout the country.

He continued, “Currently, our preliminary estimates indicate that the country has suffered damage at unprecedented levels.”

At a speed of up to 300 kilometers per hour… Hurricane Melissa, known as the “Hurricane of the Century”, hits Jamaica and heads towards Cuba, leaving great devastation after heavy rains and floods.#News pic.twitter.com/YBJz6K5JDv

– Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) October 29, 2025

In the same context, Minister of Local Communities Affairs Desmond McKenzie said, “More than 530,000 Jamaicans are deprived of electricity. Work is underway to restore service and priority is being given to hospitals, pumping stations and water treatment plants.”

“All of Jamaica suffered the devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa,” he added.

On the other hand, the Jamaican Foreign Ministry said that Britain will provide emergency financial assistance to the country worth 2.5 million pounds ($3.3 million).