KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa has left at least 40 people dead across the Caribbean and billions in destruction as it moves north toward Bermuda and Canada. The once–Category 5 storm battered Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, toppling power lines, washing away roads, and displacing thousands.
Officials say the confirmed death toll stands at 44 — 19 in Jamaica and 25 in Haiti — though the number is expected to rise as rescue teams reach cut-off areas. In Haiti, a river burst its banks in the coastal town of Petit-Goâve, while in Jamaica, military units have been deployed for relief and recovery.
Rising humanitarian toll
Hundreds of thousands remain without electricity across the region. The storm’s fierce winds and torrential rains caused widespread flooding and landslides, severely hampering rescue operations. In Jamaica, roads are blocked and key bridges damaged, while in Haiti, entire neighborhoods remain underwater.
The United States has dispatched search and rescue teams to Jamaica and offered humanitarian aid to Cuba. Caribbean leaders are calling for wealthier nations to contribute more to climate funds, arguing that worsening storms like Melissa are fueled by global warming.
Bermuda braces for impact
Now downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, Melissa is expected to bring heavy rain and dangerous surf to Bermuda and parts of New England. Authorities in Bermuda have closed schools, suspended ferry services, and shut down the main causeway connecting the island’s airport to the capital, Hamilton.
Meteorologists warn that even as Melissa weakens, it remains powerful enough to cause coastal flooding and severe disruptions along its path toward Canada.
