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A Historic Catastrophe Strikes the Caribbean
In what meteorologists are calling one of the most devastating natural disasters in Caribbean history, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica's southwestern coast on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, as a catastrophic Category 5 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, Melissa has earned the grim distinction of being the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since record-keeping began in 1851.
The Storm's Unprecedented Power
Hurricane Melissa reached its peak intensity just as it slammed into Jamaica near New Hope at approximately 1 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. The storm's ferocity was matched only by a handful of Atlantic hurricanes in history, with its central pressure of 892 millibars and wind speeds tying records for the strongest Atlantic storm to make landfall.
This marks the first time an Atlantic hurricane has made landfall as a Category 5 since Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas in 2019. Melissa is also the third Category 5 hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, joining storms Erin and Humberto in a pattern that hasn't been seen in two decades.
Devastation Across Jamaica
The impact on Jamaica has been nothing short of catastrophic. Prime Minister Andrew Holness grimly acknowledged the reality facing his nation: "There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5. The question now is the speed of recovery."
Infrastructure Collapse
The storm's slow-moving nature over Jamaica amplified its destructive potential. As of Tuesday afternoon, over 530,000 Jamaicans were without power, and internet connectivity plummeted to just 30% of normal levels. Communication infrastructure suffered widespread damage, cutting off entire communities from the outside world.
St. Elizabeth Parish in southwestern Jamaica bore the brunt of the storm's fury. Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica's Minister of Local Government and Community Development, painted a dire picture: "The Parish of St. Elizabeth is underwater. The damage to St. Elizabeth is extensive, based on what we have seen."
Human Cost and Displacement
At least seven deaths have been reported across the Caribbean so far, including three in Jamaica during storm preparations, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. However, authorities warn that the death toll is likely to rise as communication is restored and damage assessments continue.
Hospitals faced critical situations, with 75 patients evacuated from a facility in Black River after power loss and roof damage, and 50 patients relocated in Santa Cruz due to flooding. In a particularly sobering warning, Jamaica's South East Regional Health Authority cautioned residents about crocodiles being displaced from their natural habitats by flooding.
Stranded Tourists
Among those caught in the storm's path were numerous tourists, including several Americans. Texas newlyweds Kasydee and Hunter Bishop found their dream honeymoon turned into a nightmare, trapped near Montego Bay as the Category 5 storm approached. Yolanda Williams from Greenville, North Carolina, arrived Friday to celebrate her birthday, only to have her flight home canceled as airports shut down.
Despite the terror, some tourists reported that resorts like Sandals took good care of guests during the storm, providing shelter and supplies.
Economic Devastation
AccuWeather has preliminarily estimated the damage and economic loss to Jamaica at $22 billion. This figure could rise substantially as the full extent of the destruction becomes clear in the coming days and weeks.
Prime Minister Holness noted that even before landfall, the storm impacted Jamaica's economy by forcing the closure of businesses, hotels, and airports. The last major hurricane to hit Jamaica, Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, caused an estimated $10 billion in regional damage and 319 deaths. Gilbert made landfall as a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds—significantly weaker than Melissa's 185 mph winds.
For context, last year's Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm that passed by Jamaica, impacted two quarters of the country's GDP performance and dragged down economic growth. Melissa's direct hit as a stronger Category 5 storm promises far more severe economic consequences.
The Storm's Continued Path of Destruction
After devastating Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa made a second landfall near Chivirico, Cuba, at 3:10 a.m. EDT Wednesday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds. Cuban authorities planned to evacuate half a million people to safer ground in anticipation of the storm's arrival.
As of Wednesday morning, Melissa's core was moving offshore of eastern Cuba, heading toward the southeastern and central Bahamas, with peak storm surge forecast to reach 8 to 12 feet in Cuba, 5 to 8 feet in the southeastern Bahamas, and 2 to 4 feet in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The storm is expected to pass near or west of Bermuda late Thursday.
A Long Road to Recovery
Storm chasers and humanitarian workers on the ground paint a sobering picture of what lies ahead. Brandon Clement, a storm chaser in Jamaica, warned: "It's going to take months for things to even begin to resemble normalcy after this. It's just a really bad situation." He expressed concerns that a humanitarian crisis may unfold due to the expected widespread devastation.
The Jamaican government has launched a website, Support Jamaica, to provide residents with regular updates and to collect donations for what officials acknowledge will be a long and arduous recovery period. While Jamaica has insurance provisions and access to credit facilities that will be triggered by the storm's impacts, Prime Minister Holness cautioned that the scale of response depends entirely on the level of catastrophe—and Melissa appears to exceed even worst-case scenarios.
International Support
The international community has begun mobilizing assistance. The Miami Heat donated $1 million to Direct Relief for Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts, made in partnership with the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation and Carnival Corporation. The UK has pledged £2.5 million in humanitarian support to Jamaica.
In Haiti, the World Food Program has pre-positioned more than 800,000 metric tons of food to assist around 86,000 people for two weeks in the impoverished nation.
Climate Context
Hurricane Melissa's unprecedented strength serves as yet another reminder of the increasing intensity of tropical cyclones in a warming climate. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has now produced three Category 5 storms, a milestone not reached in 20 years. The storm's rapid intensification over warm Caribbean waters demonstrates how favorable oceanic conditions can fuel these atmospheric monsters.
As the Caribbean begins the long process of recovery and rebuilding, Hurricane Melissa will be remembered not just as a meteorological phenomenon, but as a human tragedy that tested the resilience of island nations and their people. The full scope of this disaster will only become clear in the weeks and months ahead, but one thing is certain: Jamaica and the Caribbean will never forget the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa
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