Tourism29 October, 20253 min read
Hurricane Melissa Kills Dozens and Devastates Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica with Catastrophic Flooding and Landslides
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Hurricane Melissa caused at least 25 deaths across Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica. Category 5 Hurricane Melissa produced catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread destruction.
9 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Houthis Strike Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, Injuring Terminal 3 and 4 →
Impact of Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025. The hurricane left a trail of devastation and caused dozens of deaths across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba. Local accounts describe homes stripped of roofs, downed utility poles, and streets flooded or buried by landslides.
“Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm with winds up to 185 mph, caused widespread devastation and dozens of deaths across Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025.”
Jamaica suffered massive displacement and power loss amid communications blackouts that hindered damage assessments. As the storm moved northeast toward the Bahamas and Bermuda, reports on its intensity varied. One source emphasized Melissa’s Category 5 peak with winds up to 185 mph.
Another reported sustained winds near 100 mph in the central Bahamas, alongside evacuations due to storm surges up to 7 feet. The storm was expected to track near Bermuda by late Thursday.
Media coverage also highlighted human-impact stories, such as tourists in Montego Bay being urged to shelter. Travelers found themselves riding out the storm in resorts and shelters.
Impact of Hurricane on Jamaica
Jamaica absorbed a direct hit, with over 25,000 people displaced and 77% of the island losing power amid communications outages that slowed damage checks. Authorities in the southwest found at least four bodies, including a baby killed by a fallen tree. Earlier counts tied Melissa to several deaths even before landfall.
Montego Bay’s residents and visitors faced evacuation orders and airport closures that stranded many tourists. Some moved into shelters and prayed for safety, while travelers like a newlywed Baton Rouge couple and their group of about 30 were forced to shelter in resorts instead of flying home on October 28.
Storm Impact in Haiti
In Haiti, the storm’s lethality surged as severe flooding swamped communities. In Petit-Goâve alone, at least 25 people died and many homes collapsed.
“Haiti experienced severe flooding, particularly in Petit-Goâve, where at least 25 people died and many homes collapsed.”
Earlier, before landfall, the death toll associated with Melissa in Haiti was smaller, underscoring how rapidly conditions deteriorated as the system intensified and moved through. While some outlets centered preparedness and impacts for Jamaica and Cuba, Haiti’s escalating fatalities and flood destruction marked one of the storm’s grimmest chapters.
Cuba Storm Impact and Response
Cuba also endured widespread damage from heavy rains and flooding in the southwest and northwest regions. About 735,000 people were driven into shelters due to the severe weather conditions. The storm battered infrastructure across the island, including hospitals.
In the east, residents were already clearing debris from the storm's impact. One major facility, the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical Hospital, suffered severe damage.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the difficult situation and pledged recovery efforts. The storm threatened to worsen the island’s ongoing economic crisis, which is marked by power outages and shortages of fuel and food.
Tropical Storm Melissa Update
The crisis continues to evolve as Melissa expands and pushes northeast. Evacuations have been rolled out in the central Bahamas due to storm surges up to 7 feet. The system is expected to pass near Bermuda.
“Melissa, with sustained winds of 100 mph, was moving northeast near the central Bahamas, where evacuations were underway due to expected storm surges up to 7 feet.”
One outlet provides historical context, noting the last similarly powerful hurricane to hit Jamaica was 1988’s Gilbert, which caused extensive damage and dozens of deaths. Meanwhile, U.S. rescue teams are mobilizing to assist with recovery efforts. Human-interest reports show visitors unexpectedly marooned at resorts for safety while flights and normal travel plans were disrupted.
