Hurricane Melissa's Toll Exceeds 28 Lives in Jamaica Amid Destruction

Sun Nov 02 2025 21:38:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The death toll from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica has risen to 28, with reports indicating more casualties may still be confirmed. The storm has caused severe destruction across the Caribbean, complicating rescue efforts.

Hurricane Melissa has led to at least 28 deaths in Jamaica, with further casualties expected. Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the grim news as emergency responders face challenges reaching affected areas due to blockages and flooding. The hurricane, a category five storm, has wreaked havoc across the Caribbean, including Cuba and Haiti, where the death toll is reported at 31.

The number of people killed in Jamaica as a result of Hurricane Melissa has risen to 28, the Caribbean nation's Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced. On Saturday, he confirmed nine additional deaths, with reports suggesting further fatalities are still being verified, indicating the toll could increase.

Emergency responders and aid agencies have struggled to reach many areas due to blocked roads, debris, and flooding caused by the storm. The category five hurricane has caused a multitude of fatalities across the Caribbean, bringing powerful winds and landslides to Cuba and Haiti.

The extent of devastation in Jamaica has only recently come into focus, following the hurricane's landfall on Tuesday, which knocked out communication systems and power across much of the island. The hardest-hit areas include western communities like Black River and Montego Bay, where images depict buildings flattened, debris scattered on streets, and entire neighborhoods submerged.

According to the Red Cross, 72% of Jamaica still lacks electricity, and around 6,000 people are currently housed in emergency shelters. Jamaican officials have reported establishing multiple field hospitals in the worst-affected areas to treat victims.

While aid has begun to flow into the country, the distribution has been impeded by landslides, downed power lines, and fallen trees that render certain roads impassable. Reports reveal that many desperate individuals have entered supermarkets and pharmacies in search of food, clean water, and medicine.

Hurricane Melissa has set a record as the most powerful storm ever to strike Jamaica, peaking with winds of 185mph (295 km/h). Comparison shows it as one of the strongest storms the Caribbean has witnessed. In addition to the tragically high numbers in Jamaica, at least 31 fatalities have also been reported in Haiti, alongside two in the Dominican Republic. In Cuba, thousands of evacuations were carried out as more than 60,000 homes faced damage or destruction.

The implications of climate change on the frequency and intensity of hurricanes remain uncertain, but rising sea surface temperatures are believed to provide the energy that contributes to stronger storms, along with more severe rainfall. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had previously predicted an above-normal hurricane season for this year.