Haiti, a country in the southern Caribbean, is currently in the grip of Hurricane Melissa. Many rivers are in spate due to continuous rain and strong winds. According to CNN report, at least 25 people have died in the country so far. Officials of Haiti’s Civil Defense Agency informed that they do not have much resources for relief work, due to which people are forced to protect themselves. Many villages have been completely submerged and hundreds of families are taking shelter in temporary camps.
In many areas of southern Haiti, villages have been flooded due to breach of river embankments. Local administration said that hundreds of houses collapsed, while dozens of people are missing. Social workers and local people are working together for relief and rescue operations. The situation has become even more serious due to limited presence of the administration.
Power outages and signs of devastation in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 super cyclone, the most dangerous level on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Due to strong winds and rain, 77 percent of the country is in darkness. The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) company said the electricity grid had been badly damaged and restoration could take several days. According to the government spokesperson, there was pressure on the grid even before the storm, now a large part of it has been completely destroyed. Along with removing the debris, the army and police are busy in providing relief material. So far, four bodies have been recovered from the St. Elizabeth area, while many people are still reported missing.
Melissa also reached Cuba
After causing devastation in Jamaica, the storm reached Cuba on Monday. Although it weakened a bit here to a Category 3 storm, it still caused significant damage in southern areas due to strong winds and high tides. According to the Cuban government, roofs were blown off many coastal homes and roads were flooded. Officials have advised citizens to take shelter at higher places.
Now Melissa is moving towards Bahamas, big danger in next 24 hours
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that by Wednesday afternoon (October 29, 2025), Melissa’s wind speed was recorded at 100 mph (160 km/h). Now this storm is moving towards Bahamas as Category 2. NHC has warned that in the next 24 hours this storm will pass over or near Long Island and Crooked Island. The Bahamas administration has declared a state of emergency and people from coastal areas are being evacuated to safe places. Warning of heavy rainfall and waves 6 to 8 feet high has been issued.
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