Hurricane Melissa Devastates Caribbean, Approaches Bermuda

Hurricane Melissa has caused extensive destruction across the Caribbean, leaving at least 24 people dead in Haiti, while significant damage has been reported in Jamaica and Cuba. As the hurricane makes its way towards Bermuda, the US National Hurricane Center has warned that flooding may persist in areas already affected, including parts of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

This powerful storm, which has been linked to human-induced climate change, was forecast to reach Bermuda by late Thursday with maximum sustained winds near 105 miles per hour (approximately 165 kilometers per hour). Residents have been urged to take precautions against the approaching storm, which is one of the most intense ever recorded.

Destruction Across the Caribbean

In Jamaica and Cuba, the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa has left communities grappling with significant losses. Communications and transportation networks remain largely non-operational, complicating efforts to assess the full extent of the damage. In eastern Cuba, residents are navigating flooded streets, contending with collapsed homes and the destruction of infrastructure.

Felicia Correa, a resident of the La Trampa community near El Cobre, expressed her despair: “We were already going through tremendous hardship. Now, of course, we are much worse off.” Many people are attempting to clear debris and repair roofs, while others are searching for food as shops begin to reopen. Cuban authorities reported that around 735,000 people had been evacuated, primarily from the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo.

The United States has reached out to the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas to coordinate disaster response efforts. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that rescue and response teams were en route, and he affirmed the US’s readiness to provide humanitarian aid to Cuba.

Humanitarian Impact and International Response

In Jamaica, UN resident coordinator Dennis Zulu highlighted the unprecedented devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, emphasizing the challenges in confirming reports of casualties due to limited access to the most affected regions. Government minister Desmond McKenzie noted that while there have been confirmed casualties, the full scope of the disaster is still being assessed.

The death toll in Haiti has been confirmed at 24, according to Gregoire Goodstein, the interim UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the country. The civil defense agency reported that the storm had claimed the lives of at least 10 children due to flooding earlier in the week. As Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, it tied the 1935 record for the most intense storm to hit the region.

In Seaford Town, farmer and businessman Christopher Hacker described the devastation of his restaurant and banana plantations, stating simply, “Everything is gone.” The destruction wrought by such mega-storms serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced climate action, according to Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change.

As the Caribbean begins to assess the damage and plan for recovery, the international community is mobilizing support to aid those affected by this catastrophic event. The UK government has announced an emergency fund of £2.5 million (approximately $3.3 million) for the region and is organizing flights to assist British nationals in leaving the affected areas.

The path ahead for recovery will be long and challenging, as communities begin to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s destructive force.