Hurricane Melissa continued its destructive path across the Caribbean on Wednesday, leaving widespread devastation in Jamaica and now threatening to make landfall in Cuba within hours, as authorities brace for what meteorologists are calling one of the most powerful storms in decades.
Jamaica reels from catastrophic damage
Melissa slammed into Jamaica late Tuesday as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing sustained winds of over 230 km/h and torrential rain that caused flash flooding and landslides across the island. The Red Cross reported that more than 1.5 million people were affected, with entire communities cut off by collapsed bridges and washed-out roads. Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport remained closed, and emergency crews worked through the night to restore power and communication lines.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the destruction as “unprecedented in recent memory,” urging calm as rescue operations expanded to the island’s eastern and northern parishes. Shelters are operating at full capacity, with thousands of families displaced amid shortages of drinking water and fuel.
Cuba on high alert
Forecasters now expect Hurricane Melissa to hit Cuba’s southern coast early Thursday, likely near Santiago de Cuba, still packing winds exceeding 200 km/h. The Cuban government has ordered mass evacuations from coastal regions and suspended public transport in vulnerable provinces. The state news agency Granma reported that nearly half a million residents have already moved inland as the storm edges closer.
Authorities have warned that the storm surge could reach up to five metres, threatening to inundate low-lying communities and sugar-producing areas crucial to the island’s economy. Heavy rainfall of up to 400 millimetres is forecast, raising fears of flash floods and widespread agricultural losses.
Regional response and outlook
Regional governments and humanitarian agencies have begun mobilising aid, with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency coordinating relief flights and emergency supplies. The United States National Hurricane Center said Melissa is expected to weaken slightly as it crosses Cuba but could regain strength when it enters the Florida Straits later this week.
Meteorologists cautioned that the storm’s slow movement could prolong its impact, leaving behind extensive damage and long-term recovery challenges. For Jamaica and soon-to-be-struck Cuba, Melissa is shaping up as the most severe hurricane to hit the region since Maria in 2017.
Newshub Editorial in Caribbean – 29 October 2025
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