Massive evacuations are underway in the path of the devastating Hurricane Melissa, as it continues to cause widespread destruction. The storm, which has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane as it crossed Cuba, previously struck Jamaica as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record, according to the US National Hurricane Centre. Hundreds of thousands of individuals in Cuba have been moved to shelters, with a hurricane warning in place for several provinces and the Bahamas.
In Haiti, the town of Petit-Goâve witnessed tragic consequences as 25 people lost their lives due to flooding caused by the overflowing La Digue river. Numerous homes collapsed, leaving people trapped under debris, prompting the mayor to describe the situation as overwhelming.
Hurricane Melissa, with sustained winds of 105mph, is currently moving north-northeast, positioned near Guantánamo, Cuba, and the central Bahamas. The National Hurricane Centre in Miami advised urgent completion of storm preparations in the Bahamas, as the hurricane is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the region.
Warnings have been issued for countries in the storm’s path, including Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Bermuda, highlighting the potential risks of life-threatening storm surges and heavy rainfall. The impact of Melissa has been severe, with significant damage reported in Jamaica and ongoing efforts to provide relief and support to affected areas.
The UK government has allocated £2.5 million in humanitarian aid for Jamaica, aiming to assist with emergency supplies like shelter kits and water filters. British nationals in the region are receiving support from the Royal Navy and Foreign Office teams deployed to provide assistance. The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa is expected to leave a lasting impact on the affected regions, with infrastructure damage and power outages affecting a large portion of the impacted areas.