Hurricane Melissa left a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean — and Jamaica took a direct, devastating hit. The Category 5 hurricane tore through the island Tuesday with winds reaching 185 mph, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic.
According to The Associated Press, in St. Elizabeth parish, a landslide blocked the main roads in Santa Cruz, leaving streets turned to mud pits as residents tried to sweep floodwater from their homes. Roofs were ripped off buildings, including a high school that was serving as a public shelter.
“I never see anything like this before in all my years living here,” resident Jennifer Small said.
More than 25,000 Jamaicans were sheltering in government-run facilities Wednesday as relief efforts began. “Recovery will take time, but the government is fully mobilized,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a statement. “Relief supplies are being prepared, and we are doing everything possible to restore normalcy quickly.”
But on the ground, conditions remained dire. Black River, a coastal town of 5,000 in southwestern Jamaica, was among the hardest hit. Mayor Richard Solomon said the town’s hospital, police units, and emergency services were all flooded and non-operational. “Catastrophic is a mild term based on what we are observing,” he said.
Many residents have been left homeless and desperate for help. In the same region, 84-year-old David Muschette sat among the ruins of his roofless home. “I need help,” he said, pointing to his soaked clothes and broken furniture scattered across the grass.
Across the island, 77% of Jamaica remained without power as officials struggled to assess the full extent of the destruction due to “a total communication blackout,” according to Richard Thompson, acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.
Police confirmed at least four deaths in southwest Jamaica, including a baby killed when a tree fell on a home. State Minister Abka Fitz-Henley said more fatalities are likely to be discovered as floodwaters recede.
The Jamaican government said it hopes to reopen airports by Thursday to allow faster delivery of relief supplies. The United States announced it is sending rescue and recovery teams to assist Jamaica and other Caribbean nations battered by the storm.
“Hurricane Melissa” has already claimed dozens of lives across the region — but for Jamaicans, the long road to recovery is only beginning.
