Category-5 Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica and then hits Cuba as a Category 3, tearing roofs off homes, damaging hospitals, displacing thousands and threatening other islands.
Hurricane Melissa Ravages the Caribbean: Jamaica and Cuba Reel Under Category-5 Fury
Storm History and Intensity
Hurricane Melissa roared across the Caribbean in late October 2025, becoming the strongest storm ever recorded to strike Jamaica. On 28 October it made landfall near Black River city in St Elizabeth Parish, southwestern Jamaica, as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds estimated at 185 mph (295 kph) and a central pressure of 892 millibars, tying records for the most intense Atlantic landfall. The storm crossed Jamaica and continued northeast, weakening slightly but still delivering destructive winds and rain. Within 14 hours it struck near Chivirico on Cuba’s southern coast, arriving early on 29 October as a Category 3 storm with winds around 120 mph (195 kph). Meteorologists warned that Melissa could make a second landfall in the Bahamas after crossing Cuba.
Impact on Jamaica
The Jamaican government declared the entire island a disaster zone, anticipating loss of life after Melissa battered homes, hospitals and farms. The hurricane toppled trees, flooded parishes and damaged four major hospitals, leaving more than half a million customers without power. Relief agencies reported that at least 6,000 people were displaced and 800 shelters were activated nationwide. Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned that damage assessments would take days but described the storm as the worst in the country’s recorded history. The World Food Programme noted that winds exceeding 150 mph could cause "widespread destruction" even if the storm’s centre passed west of the island.
Impact on Cuba and the Region
Ahead of the storm, Cuban authorities evacuated at least 735,000 people from vulnerable coastal areas. When Melissa made landfall, it was still powerful enough to rip roofs off houses and down trees. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall and flash flooding were likely across eastern Cuba. ReliefWeb reported that by the morning of 29 October, the hurricane’s centre was 30 km east of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h, while tens of thousands remained in shelters. The storm was forecast to continue toward the Bahamas, with Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos also bracing for impacts.
Humanitarian Response and Preparations
Emergency organisations mobilised across the region. Jamaica activated national emergency plans, deployed security forces to affected parishes and requested international assistance. The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was working around the clock with Caribbean governments to coordinate logistics, cash transfers and emergency supplies. In Cuba, preventive evacuations moved hundreds of thousands to safer ground. Dominican Republic authorities reported at least two deaths and substantial flooding, while Haiti and the Turks and Caicos issued evacuation orders.
Looking Ahead
Climate scientists noted that hurricanes in the Atlantic are becoming more intense as sea-surface temperatures rise. Melissa’s rapid strengthening into a Category 5 storm—and its ability to maintain hurricane strength across multiple landfalls—highlight the growing risks faced by Caribbean nations. For residents of Jamaica and Cuba, the immediate priority is to restore electricity, rebuild damaged infrastructure and ensure access to clean water and medical care. International donors and aid agencies are expected to provide assistance over the coming weeks as damage assessments continue.
