A significant number of evacuations are still ongoing in nations within the path of the highly destructive Hurricane Melissa, causing widespread devastation and loss of life.
After battering Jamaica as one of the most potent Atlantic hurricanes on record, the storm has now moved towards Cuba, weakening to a Category 2 hurricane. The US National Hurricane Center reported that hundreds of thousands of individuals in Cuba have been relocated to shelters to seek safety. Areas under a hurricane warning in Cuba include Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas provinces, as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas.
In the southern Haitian coastal town of Petit-Goâve, Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème confirmed the tragic death of 25 individuals due to flooding caused by the bursting of the La Digue river. Numerous homes have collapsed, leaving people trapped under debris, leading the mayor to express his deep concern over the dire situation.
With sustained winds reaching 105mph, Hurricane Melissa is currently moving north-northeast at a speed of 14mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm’s center is located 45 miles northwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and 205 miles south of the central Bahamas.
Authorities have issued urgent warnings for the Bahamas, urging swift completion of storm preparations. The hurricane is projected to continue its path towards the northeast, posing a severe threat of powerful winds and heavy rainfall for both the Bahamas and Bermuda.
The National Hurricane Center has cautioned that even regions on the outskirts of the storm, such as Turks and Caicos, could face life-threatening storm surges. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are anticipated to encounter hurricane conditions, dangerous storm surges, and intense rainfall, while Haiti and the Dominican Republic are expected to endure flash floods and catastrophic landslides. Bermuda is also advised to brace for hurricanes and heavy rain starting on Thursday.
Hurricane Melissa initially made landfall in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with peak winds of 185 mph before advancing towards Cuba. Current reports indicate that approximately 735,000 individuals are still sheltering in eastern Cuba, where the storm arrived as a Category 3 hurricane.
Amid the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the UK has pledged £2.5 million in humanitarian aid to Jamaica for emergency relief efforts, including the provision of shelter kits, water filters, and blankets. The British government has dispatched the Royal Navy ship HMS Trent to the Caribbean, and a specialized Foreign Office team has been deployed to Miami to assist stranded British nationals.
An estimated 8,000 UK citizens are believed to be in Jamaica, either for vacation or visiting relatives, with all airports presently closed. The British Foreign Office has highlighted the unprecedented strength of Hurricane Melissa, labeling it as potentially the most powerful hurricane in Jamaica’s history, expected to leave towns and infrastructure severely damaged or destroyed. A significant portion of the island is currently without electricity.
