Hurricane Melissa strengthens as it churns toward Cuba, and Jamaica begins assessing the damage. Image: BBC.
(The Post News)– Hurricane Melissa has passed over Jamaica, leaving widespread destruction and power outages across the island. A red alert, the highest level of warning, was issued for parts of the country, with other regions under orange alert as Hurricane Melissa bears down on Cuba.
Hurricane Melissa crossed Jamaica earlier on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, as the strongest storm ever recorded to hit the Caribbean nation in modern history. The system has since re-strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it moves toward Cuba, prompting mass evacuations in the eastern provinces.
Hurricane Melissa Floods Jamaica
Preliminary reports have shown severe flooding, toppled trees, and extensive infrastructure damage, while Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport is expected to remain closed for at least another day before aid flights can begin to arrive. Officials reported that a clearer picture of the devastation will only emerge once daylight returns.
According to officials, the powerful storm has continued its path northward, battering eastern Cuba and western Haiti. Both nations, already grappling with economic and humanitarian crises, now face the prospect of further catastrophic losses. The powerful storm has continued its path northward, battering eastern Cuba and western Haiti. Both nations, already grappling with economic and humanitarian crises, now face the prospect of further catastrophic losses.
Officials added that aid organizations across the region are preparing for a large-scale humanitarian response. Brian Bogart, head of the World Food Programme’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office in Barbados, reported the situation as one of the worst disasters in recent memory. “I fear it will resemble some of the most catastrophic events that I’ve been a part of,” he said. “We’re preparing for the storm’s effects on people.”
He added that once the extent of the damage is known, the delivery of aid could face major logistical challenges. “When bridges are washed out and roads are damaged, it’s very difficult to get supplies to people… it’s very difficult to understand what the needs are if we can’t make contact with those communities,” Bogart said.
Jamaican Government Launches Relief Website
According to Dana Morris Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, the Jamaican government has launched an official relief website to coordinate aid efforts and provide verified information to the public. Dada stated that the site would serve as the country’s primary platform for donations and emergency updates.
“We have already been made aware of some nefarious individuals trying to collect money on behalf of Jamaica. We remind you that this will be the official site,” Dixon said, urging citizens to remain vigilant. The platform will also allow residents to locate shelters, report emergencies, and access resources as the island begins to recover from the hurricane’s impact.
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