Jamaica and Haiti are reeling from Hurricane Melissa, which brought catastrophic damage to the Caribbean as it made landfall in Jamaica this week. The storm's powerful winds of 185mph caused widespread destruction, leaving thousands without power or access to basic necessities.
The country's capital, Kingston, was spared the worst of the devastation, but many towns were underwater and infrastructure such as power lines and mobile network towers were severely affected. "The devastation is enormous," said Jamaican transport minister Daryl Vaz, in a stark assessment of the situation.
Melissa, the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since records began in 1851, also claimed four lives on the island. In neighboring Haiti, 25 people including 10 children lost their lives after floodwaters swept through the country, with officials describing it as a "sad moment" for the nation.
The storm had previously threatened eastern Cuba, where an estimated 735,000 people were evacuated from their homes as the hurricane approached. Although the extent of the damage is still unclear, images from Santiago de Cuba show widespread destruction and debris-filled streets.
As Melissa now heads towards Bermuda, residents are bracing themselves for its impact. The British government has chartered flights to Jamaica for British nationals stranded on the island. Meanwhile, in the Bahamas, which Melissa has passed through, authorities had flown out nearly 1,500 people in one of their largest evacuation operations.
Despite losing some power, Melissa remains a category 2 storm with winds of close to 105mph (165kph), according to the US National Hurricane Center. However, forecasters predict that it will significantly weaken by Friday as it moves towards Bermuda.
The country's capital, Kingston, was spared the worst of the devastation, but many towns were underwater and infrastructure such as power lines and mobile network towers were severely affected. "The devastation is enormous," said Jamaican transport minister Daryl Vaz, in a stark assessment of the situation.
Melissa, the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since records began in 1851, also claimed four lives on the island. In neighboring Haiti, 25 people including 10 children lost their lives after floodwaters swept through the country, with officials describing it as a "sad moment" for the nation.
The storm had previously threatened eastern Cuba, where an estimated 735,000 people were evacuated from their homes as the hurricane approached. Although the extent of the damage is still unclear, images from Santiago de Cuba show widespread destruction and debris-filled streets.
As Melissa now heads towards Bermuda, residents are bracing themselves for its impact. The British government has chartered flights to Jamaica for British nationals stranded on the island. Meanwhile, in the Bahamas, which Melissa has passed through, authorities had flown out nearly 1,500 people in one of their largest evacuation operations.
Despite losing some power, Melissa remains a category 2 storm with winds of close to 105mph (165kph), according to the US National Hurricane Center. However, forecasters predict that it will significantly weaken by Friday as it moves towards Bermuda.
. Four lives lost in Jamaica, 25 people including kids in Haiti - just thinking about those numbers is heartbreaking 
. And the extent of the damage... from underwater towns to destroyed infrastructure, it's like a war zone out there. The fact that Kingston was spared but still had its share of destruction just goes to show how unpredictable these storms can be 
.
Anyway, I do hope those affected get the help and support they need ASAP. The British government is doing a good thing by chartering flights to Jamaica for stranded Brits, that's definitely a positive step 
.
. And 25 deaths including kids?! That's just too much 
. But I'm glad the US government is helping out with flights for British nationals stranded on the island 
. I hope Bermuda can prepare itself for Melissa, but if it weakens by Friday like forecasters say, that's a huge relief 
. We should all be sending our thoughts and prayers to those affected by this storm 
.
735k people evacuated from cuba? that's a lot of folks 
what's going through their minds right now?
It's like they're stuck in a disaster movie. I hope the British government can help those stranded Brits get out safely and Bermuda can prepare for the storm without too much damage 
And Haiti... my heart goes out to them, losing so many lives and homes 
. any small gesture of kindness or support from others would make a big difference right now 
. Bermuda's next on its list... gotta stay vigilant 
, can't believe the damage in cuba & bahamas too