Hurricane Melissa made landfall in New Hope, Jamaica yesterday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, tearing through communities with sustained winds reaching 185 miles per hour. The storm has since weakened to a Category 4 but continues its destructive path across the island, leaving behind widespread flooding, power outages, and blocked roadways.
According to AP News, several hospitals and emergency response teams remain inaccessible due to severe flooding and infrastructure damage. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the nation ahead of the storm, warning that recovery would be a long process. “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5. The question is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge,” he said.
Officials estimate that nearly 25,000 tourists are stranded in Jamaica, unable to evacuate before the storm hit. This morning, Hurricane Melissa is expected to make its way toward Cuba before heading to the Bahamas later this afternoon.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this catastrophic storm. Relief efforts are already being mobilized, but the true scale of the damage is still unfolding.