Hurricane Melissa has continued its devastating sweep across the Caribbean, decimating homes and infrastructure, flooding neighborhoods, and leaving dozens dead.
The impact in Jamaica was clearer on Wednesday, after the island nation was hit squarely by the category five storm - one of the most powerful hurricanes ever measured in the region. At least five people have been confirmed dead there.
At least another twenty died during flooding in Haiti as Melissa, now a category two storm, tore through the region.
In Jamaica, people remain stranded on roofs and without power. Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted the total devastation across the island-nation.
He added that 80-90% of roofs were destroyed, along with hospitals, libraries, police stations, port houses, and other urban infrastructure.
King Charles, who is the head of state in Jamaica, expressed his deeply concerned sentiments and emphasized the urgent need to restore balance in nature due to the heartbreak caused by this disaster.
From Jamaica, where the storm also caused mudslides, Melissa moved north to Cuba as a category three storm, bringing 115 mph winds and heavy rain, battering the southeast of the island.
On Wednesday night, the storm was 105 miles from the central Bahamas and expected to reach the Bahamas region overnight. Hurricane Melissa was moving northeast with wind speeds reaching 100 mph, with a dangerous storm surge expected ahead of its path.
In Haiti, the island suffered catastrophic flash flooding and landslides, forcing 3,000 people into shelters. The U.S. is dispatching a disaster response team to Jamaica to assess ongoing needs after the hurricane.
As the recovery begins, the devastation from Hurricane Melissa is stark, highlighting the region's vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
