Severe flooding engulfed the southwestern region of Jamaica, causing significant damage as Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a powerful Category 5 storm, ranking among the most intense hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic.
The impact of Melissa was felt with winds reaching 295 km/h near New Hope, resulting in landslides, uprooted trees, and widespread power outages. Authorities warned that the cleanup and assessment of the destruction could be a lengthy process.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, emphasized the challenge ahead in rebuilding the affected areas, stating, “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5.”
In Black River, located in western Jamaica, floodwaters left three families stranded in their homes, inaccessible to rescue crews due to treacherous conditions. Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council, described the chaotic scene with roofs being ripped off buildings and expressed hope for a window of opportunity to assist those in need.
A resident in Black River shared their harrowing experience, stating, “I never knew concrete could shake like this,” highlighting the intensity of the storm’s impact on the community.
Reports of extensive damage emerged from St. Elizabeth parish in southwest Jamaica, with McKenzie noting that the area was submerged under water. While no fatalities had been confirmed, the full extent of the devastation was yet to be determined as Melissa continued to unleash its wrath on the island, marking its strongest landfall in 174 years of recorded history.
Rohan Brown from Jamaica’s Meteorological Service issued a warning that as Melissa moves away from the coast, a significant storm surge could impact northern Jamaica overnight due to the storm’s rotation.
The hurricane was projected to head towards Cuba, where it was anticipated to hit as a major hurricane early the following day.
Approximately 15,000 individuals sought refuge in shelters across Jamaica, with a vast majority of the population, around 540,000 customers, enduring power outages. Colin Bogle, an aid adviser from Mercy Corps, revealed that many families in Kingston were hunkering down despite evacuation orders, describing the anxiety and uncertainty among residents as they weathered the storm.
Bogle recounted his own experience in Portmore, near Kingston, where the hurricane’s impact plunged the area into darkness, leaving residents on edge awaiting the storm’s passage.
Facing the aftermath
By Tuesday evening, Melissa maintained sustained winds of
