Footage depicting extensive devastation has emerged following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, showing buildings with collapsed roofs and walls, fallen trees, and blocked roads. In the vicinity of Black River, located two hours south of Kingston, Jamaica, debris obstructed passage for vehicles, isolating the town. Images captured scenes of backed-up vehicles on a road blocked by fallen trees, along with destroyed houses in ruins.
Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath has resulted in numerous fatalities and significant damage across Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica. In Jamaica’s St. Elizabeth parish, a landslide obstructed main roads in Santa Cruz, turning the streets into muddy pits.
Residents in the affected areas worked to salvage their belongings, with reports of a high school’s roof being partially ripped off by the strong winds. The scale of destruction caused by the Category 5 hurricane remains uncertain due to widespread power outages and hazardous conditions prevailing in the region.
Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday with peak winds of 185mph, ranking as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record. Despite weakening and moving on to Cuba, the storm’s impact was felt in countries not directly in its path.
Haiti reported at least 23 deaths and 13 individuals missing, with the majority of casualties in the town of Petit-Goâve due to flooding that destroyed numerous homes. Cuba also experienced severe damage, including collapsed houses, blocked roads, and roofs torn off buildings, particularly in the southwest and northwest regions.
In Jamaica, over 25,000 people sought refuge in shelters as their homes were left roofless by the storm, leading to a significant power outage across the island. Authorities acknowledged the challenges in assessing the damage due to communication blackouts in some areas.
Efforts for recovery are underway, with the government mobilizing resources to provide relief and restore normalcy swiftly. Local officials in Black River highlighted the urgent need for assistance, describing the situation as catastrophic and stressing the destruction of critical rescue infrastructure.
Amid the devastation, stories emerged of individuals like David Muschette, 84, who lost everything in the storm and pleaded for help. The government aims to reopen airports to expedite the distribution of emergency aid. Tragically, fatalities have been reported in various locations, underscoring the widespread impact of Hurricane Melissa on the region.