Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, has carved a devastating path through the Caribbean this week. The storm has left at least 34 people dead and caused catastrophic damage across multiple islands. Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph. The hurricane weakened slightly before striking eastern Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 3 system. However, the destruction has been particularly severe in Jamaica, where entire communities have been isolated by flooding and landslides.
The nation is now facing widespread infrastructure damage, including collapsed roads, telecommunications outages, flooded bridges, and extensive power failures. According to Jamaica’s education minister, Dana Morris Dixon, 77% of the island was without power the morning after the storm, CBS News reported. The hurricane has now moved northeast through the Bahamas. It is currently tracking toward Bermuda as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory.
Hurricane Melissa Devastates The Caribbean
The full extent of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction is still being assessed, but early reports indicate widespread catastrophic damage. In Jamaica, which took a direct hit from the hurricane at its peak, satellite images show once-vibrant towns reduced to dirt and rubble. The southwestern Jamaican fishing village of White House and the nearby town of Black River appear particularly devastated in before-and-after aerial photographs, as shared by CBS News.
According to the latest reports, the death toll in Jamaica remains uncertain, with officials still working to confirm casualties. Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s minister leading the emergency response, told reporters that he could not “give a proper update on the number of deaths so far” because the Jamaican police have not yet confirmed them all. “But what I will say is there have been casualties and we do anticipate, based on our information, that there’ll be more,” he added, as reported by The New York Times.
More than 25,000 people remain in shelters across the island, though McKenzie noted the number had “reduced substantially over the last day” as many residents have returned home. According to Al Jazeera, in Haiti, at least 25 deaths have been reported. Cuba’s second-largest city, Santiago de Cuba, was severely hit when the hurricane made landfall there as a Category 3 storm. President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged “considerable damage” across eastern Cuba, according to CNN.
Airport, Airline, And Cruise Updates
Jamaica’s airports are gradually resuming operations after Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston reopened for emergency relief flights late Wednesday and has now begun accepting limited commercial flights, according to Jamaica’s Transportation Minister Daryl Vaz. The first commercial flights carrying passengers, relief supplies, and aid workers landed Thursday morning, as reported by the BBC.
Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica’s busiest airport, has partially reopened for emergency flights as of Thursday morning, though most commercial flights remain canceled according to FlightAware data. American Airlines has announced the resumption of specific flights, operating two round-trip flights between Miami and Kingston on October 30.
Cruise lines have made significant itinerary adjustments to avoid Hurricane Melissa’s path. Royal Caribbean repositioned several ships, including Icon of the Seas, which switched its Eastern Caribbean sailing to a Western Caribbean route, replacing St. Thomas and St. Maarten with Roatan and Cozumel.
Other affected Royal Caribbean vessels include Harmony of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas, as reported by Cruise Industry News. Additional cruise lines making itinerary changes include Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Margaritaville at Sea.
What Travelers Should Know Right Now
Travelers planning to visit Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, or other affected areas in the coming days are advised to postpone their trips until infrastructure and services are restored. Those already in affected regions should follow all instructions from local authorities and their accommodation providers.
For those with upcoming Caribbean flights, it is essential to check with the airlines about their cancellation policies. Most major carriers are offering flexible rebooking options without change fees for travel to affected destinations. Travelers stranded abroad should register with their embassies for country-specific guidance.
Where Is Hurricane Melissa Headed Next?
Hurricane Melissa is currently tracking toward Bermuda as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. According to the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane is moving north-northeast at approximately 21 mph and is expected to continue accelerating northeastward over the next couple of days. A hurricane warning is in effect for Bermuda, as the storm is forecast to pass to the northwest of the island later Thursday into the evening. Some slight strengthening is possible before the hurricane begins to weaken on Friday.
