At least 45 people have lost their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which has left a trail of destruction across the northern Caribbean. The majority of the deaths occurred in Haiti and Jamaica, with at least 25 reported fatalities in Haiti alone.
In Jamaica, the government is working to reach isolated communities that were hit hard by the storm, clearing roads and distributing aid to those in need. The country's main international airport has seen a surge in emergency relief flights, while helicopters have been dropping food to communities where homes have been destroyed.
The Education Minister, Dana Morris Dixon, described the situation as "broken", with 72% of the island without power and only 35% of mobile phone sites operational. Residents are forming long lines at gas stations and supermarkets, clutching cash in a bid for essential supplies.
The storm has also had a devastating impact on Cuba, where the military is helping to rescue people trapped in isolated communities and at risk from landslides. The town of El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba province was among the hardest hit, with zinc roofs torn off and houses collapsing.
Haiti has also suffered catastrophic flooding, with at least 20 people reported missing and over 15,000 people seeking shelter. The government has mobilized resources to search for those missing and provide emergency relief.
The storm's impact is still being felt as officials warn that the death toll will continue to rise. When Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, it tied strength records for Atlantic hurricanes making landfall, both in wind speed and barometric pressure.
Resident Sylvester Guthrie described his home in Lacovia as "roofless" after the storm passed through, leaving him with only his bicycle as a possession of value. Others have been forced to flee their homes, seeking shelter elsewhere while authorities work to reach those in need.
In Jamaica, the government is working to reach isolated communities that were hit hard by the storm, clearing roads and distributing aid to those in need. The country's main international airport has seen a surge in emergency relief flights, while helicopters have been dropping food to communities where homes have been destroyed.
The Education Minister, Dana Morris Dixon, described the situation as "broken", with 72% of the island without power and only 35% of mobile phone sites operational. Residents are forming long lines at gas stations and supermarkets, clutching cash in a bid for essential supplies.
The storm has also had a devastating impact on Cuba, where the military is helping to rescue people trapped in isolated communities and at risk from landslides. The town of El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba province was among the hardest hit, with zinc roofs torn off and houses collapsing.
Haiti has also suffered catastrophic flooding, with at least 20 people reported missing and over 15,000 people seeking shelter. The government has mobilized resources to search for those missing and provide emergency relief.
The storm's impact is still being felt as officials warn that the death toll will continue to rise. When Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, it tied strength records for Atlantic hurricanes making landfall, both in wind speed and barometric pressure.
Resident Sylvester Guthrie described his home in Lacovia as "roofless" after the storm passed through, leaving him with only his bicycle as a possession of value. Others have been forced to flee their homes, seeking shelter elsewhere while authorities work to reach those in need.
]
]
"]
]
It's like Mother Nature is trying to drive us all crazy!
Wait, no, that can't be right!
gotta feel for all these ppl struggling to access basic necessities like power and food... in Jamaica they're doing a good job tryna get aid out to the communities but its gonna take time 
and Cuba's military is stepping up to help rescue ppl trapped in isolated areas 
what really gets me tho is the mental toll of all this - people losing their homes, livelihoods, it's just heartbreaking 
this is so sad I'm literally crying for all these people who lost their lives and their homes 
. And Cuba too, I saw pics of zinc roofs flying off houses 
... we gotta send some aid ASAP! 
. The fact that 72% of Jamaica is without power and 35% of mobile phone sites are operational just shows how advanced those countries' infrastructure really is 
.
. Their military is doing some amazing work there... but what about the 20 people who are still reported missing? Shouldn't they be found ASAP? 
.
How can they even do classes without electricity? 
And what about the food situation? I heard long lines at gas stations and supermarkets... that's not exactly a picnic 
.
. The Cuban military is doing a great job with rescue ops tho 
. At least they're helping. Can't wait to see the recovery efforts underway 
. I hope the death toll isn't as high as expected 
. It's gonna be a long road to recovery for all these countries affected by Melissa... 
the govts need to step up their game and provide more resources ASAP 
.
.
the thought of 72% of Jamaica without power is just mind-boggling 
️ i hope they get help soon