Caribbean Faces Devastation After Powerful Storm Melissa

The Caribbean is grappling with the aftermath of Storm Melissa, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the region, leaving at least 50 people dead and widespread destruction across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba.

Jamaica: Severe Impact and Ongoing Recovery

• Power outages for 462,000 people
• Critical infrastructure destroyed
• Emergency food distributions underway
• Reminiscent of Hurricane Beryl from the previous year

Haiti: Flooding and Landslides

• 31 deaths and 20 missing
• Petit-Goave hit hardest by flooding
• Contaminated water raises cholera concerns

Cuba: Evacuations and Structural Damage

• Hundreds of thousands evacuated
• Category 3 hurricane caused extensive damage
• No reported deaths as of Friday

Climate Change and Future Risks

• Hurricanes becoming more frequent and intense due to warming ocean waters
• Caribbean leaders call for aid and debt relief from wealthier nations

Storm's Path and Weakening

• Now a post-tropical cyclone, moving toward Iceland and the Faroe Islands
• Recovery expected to be long and challenging