Hurricane Melissa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across the Caribbean
Hurricane Melissa struck Cuba as a Category 3 storm after devastating Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Severe Impact in Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica
Officials in Cuba reported widespread damage, including collapsed homes, obstructed mountain roads, and roofs torn from buildings. The storm also left dozens dead across Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica.
The
“severe and widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa is becoming clear,”said local authorities on Wednesday, as emergency teams assessed the aftermath.
Jamaica: Towns Cut Off and Homes Destroyed
Near the town of Black River, two hours south of Kingston, debris blocked roads and isolated communities. In Santa Cruz, residents stood amid the wreckage of homes destroyed by the storm.
The church in Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, suffered major structural damage. Workers in Holland Bamboo cleared fallen trees and rubble to open a route for an aid convoy heading to Black River.
Cuba: Flooding and Recovery Efforts
In Santiago de Cuba, floodwaters swept through neighborhoods, forcing residents to wade through water carrying what belongings they could save. The town of El Cobre also suffered heavy losses as communities began recovery efforts.
Eyewitness Accounts
“A man wades through floodwaters with his dog and belongings from his home flooded by Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba,”
reported Associated Press photojournalist Ramón Espinosa.
“Residents stand on the wreckage of a house destroyed by Hurricane Melissa in Santa Cruz, Jamaica,”
witnessed AP photographer Matias Delacroix.
Author’s Summary
Hurricane Melissa left a path of ruin from Jamaica to Cuba, cutting off towns, flooding homes, and marking one of the most devastating Caribbean storms in recent history.