Hurricane Melissa caused significant devastation in Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti, resulting in numerous fatalities and widespread damage. The storm led to power outages, displacements, and destruction in various regions.
In Jamaica’s St. Elizabeth parish, Santa Cruz was hit by a landslide, blocking main roads and turning streets into muddy paths. Residents struggled to salvage belongings from waterlogged homes, while a high school acting as a shelter had part of its roof torn off by strong winds.
Haiti reported at least 25 deaths and 18 missing individuals, mainly in a southern coastal town where flooding caused homes to collapse. The mayor of Petit-Goave in Haiti emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to rescue victims.
Cuba faced collapsed houses, blocked roads, and damaged buildings, particularly in the southwest and northwest regions. Around 735,000 people sought refuge in shelters as the country grappled with the aftermath of the hurricane.
Melissa, initially a Category 5 hurricane, weakened to a Category 2 storm as it crossed Cuba. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported sustained winds of 150 km/h as Melissa moved northeast towards the Bahamas.
Canadian authorities advised against travel to several affected regions, including Jamaica, certain provinces in Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda. Emergency assistance for Canadians in the region was made available through the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.
Rescue and recovery efforts were underway in the Caribbean, with the United States dispatching response teams to support affected countries. The U.S. government, which had recently reinstated economic sanctions on Cuba, was coordinating with regional leaders to assist in the crisis.
