Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Haiti

Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with sustained winds near 185 mph, flattening communities across Jamaica. Black River has been described as the storm’s “ground zero,” with up to 90% of structures losing roofs, roads blocked, and more than half the country without power while many water systems are offline. The storm has killed at least 19 people in Jamaica, and dozens of fatalities have been reported in Haiti (estimates vary from the mid‑20s to low‑30s), with casualties expected to rise as isolated areas are reached. Residents have been forced to scavenge damaged stores amid reports of looting while helicopters and aid drops try to reach cut‑off communities. The hurricane has inflicted vast economic damage, including severe blows to the tourism sector, and families with little or no insurance face very large recovery costs and heavy reliance on community and international assistance.