Officials in Jamaica and Haiti have confirmed at least 50 fatalities after Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, passed through the Caribbean this week. The hurricane made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, causing significant power outages and infrastructure damage across several island nations, including Cuba, with authorities continuing to assess the effects as of Friday.
In Jamaica, Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon confirmed 19 deaths during a press briefing. She noted that authorities were investigating reports of five additional fatalities but had not yet confirmed them. “We’re still at 19 confirmed, but we do expect that will change,” Dixon stated.
According to government reports, more than 60% of Jamaica remains without electricity, and nearly half of its water systems are offline. In the coastal town of Black River in southwest Jamaica, reports indicate that up to 90% of structures sustained roof damage.
Dixon also announced that a catastrophe bond issued in 2024 in conjunction with the World Bank has been triggered. The bond provides Jamaica with $150 million in financial protection for hurricane events.
In Haiti, authorities reported at least 31 people were killed and another 21 were missing, primarily in the country’s southern region. Government figures show that more than 15,800 people remained in shelters as of Friday.
Cuban officials reported no deaths. The country’s civil defense agency said it evacuated more than 735,000 people from the eastern part of the island before the storm’s arrival. Emergency personnel were engaged in rescue operations on Friday in areas where the Cauto River overflowed its banks. The region received up to 380mm (15 inches) of rain, causing what local residents described as unprecedented flooding.
A study by Imperial College London stated that human-caused climate change made a storm of Melissa’s intensity four times more likely to occur in the region.
As response efforts continue, Jamaican Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Andrew Wheatley acknowledged international support and advised that official government channels be used for any donations.
