Overview of Hurricane Melissa’s Impact
- Landfall Date: October 28, 2025
- Storm Category: Category 5 at landfall, with winds reaching 185 mph
- Affected Areas: Southwestern Jamaica, especially St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, Manchester, Westmoreland, and Montego Bay
Scale of Destruction
- Declared Disaster Area: Prime Minister Andrew Holness officially declared Jamaica a disaster zone
- Power Outages: Over 77% of the island lost electricity, with communication blackouts complicating rescue efforts
- Infrastructure Damage:
- Hospitals, police stations, and emergency services in towns like Black River were destroyed
- Roads blocked by debris and flooding; Montego Bay’s airport and port were severely damaged
- Historic buildings like St. John Anglican Church lost their roofsHuman Toll
- Deaths: At least 4 confirmed fatalities in Jamaica, with additional deaths during storm preparations
- Displacement: Over 25,000 people sought shelter, many losing homes to flooding and wind damage
- Emotional Impact: Survivors described scenes of devastation, with homes reduced to rubble and communities pleading for aid