Hurricane Melissa has wreaked havoc across the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba. The storm, one of the strongest to hit the region in over 150 years, has resulted in at least 34 deaths and extensive damage. Initially a Category 5 hurricane, Melissa was downgraded to Category 2 as it moved towards Bermuda, but not before causing significant devastation.

In Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel reported "extensive damage" with collapsed houses, blocked roads, and roofs torn off buildings. Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city, saw residents clearing streets buried in debris. Over 735,000 people were evacuated as the storm approached, leaving many rural communities isolated. CNN reported that at least 241 communities in the province of Santiago were cut off due to the storm.

Jamaica faced the heaviest impact when Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm. The southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth was particularly hard-hit, with knee-deep mud and washed-out bridges cutting off towns like Black River. Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s minister of local government, described the country’s infrastructure as "severely compromised," with around 140,000 people cut off from essential services. The storm claimed at least eight lives in Jamaica.

Haiti, already struggling with gang violence and a humanitarian crisis, suffered at least 25 deaths, mainly due to flooding. In Petit-Goâve, a flooded river burst its banks, causing significant casualties, including the loss of entire families. The United Nations described the devastation as "tremendous" and called for international support for recovery efforts. The Associated Press reported on the severe flooding and landslides that compounded the country's challenges.

As the storm moves towards Bermuda, authorities have closed the Causeway and taken precautionary measures to protect residents. International aid is being mobilized, with the United Kingdom and the United States pledging support for the affected regions. The full extent of the damage and the death toll may take days or weeks to determine as rescue efforts continue across the Caribbean.

Jaime Endemaño