Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica in historic landfall, leaving widespread destruction and sparking global aid mobilization amid rising fears.
Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded, made a catastrophic landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday October 28, 2025, unleashing destructive winds and torrential rainfall that have left much of the island in chaos.
The Category 5 storm, packing sustained winds of over 160 miles per hour (257 km/h), struck Jamaica’s southern coast early in the morning before sweeping inland, toppling power lines, flattening homes, and triggering massive flooding in several parishes. Emergency officials say communications have been severely disrupted, leaving many communities cut off.
The United Nations has described Melissa as the “storm of the century,” warning that Jamaica could face a humanitarian crisis if relief operations are delayed. Satellite images show widespread devastation across Kingston and other coastal towns, with reports of entire neighborhoods submerged and roads rendered impassable by debris.
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared a national state of emergency, urging citizens to remain indoors and conserve essential supplies. “We are witnessing an unprecedented disaster,” Holness said in a televised address. “Our immediate focus is on saving lives and restoring communication with affected areas.”
Rescue teams have been deployed across the island, though officials say high winds and flooding are hampering efforts. The Jamaica Defense Force is coordinating with regional partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), to deliver aid once conditions allow.
Meteorologists warn that the storm’s path could next threaten parts of Cuba and the Cayman Islands, though it is expected to weaken slightly as it moves northwest. The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued storm surge warnings for portions of the southern Caribbean, cautioning that coastal flooding may persist even after the storm passes.
Global humanitarian organizations have begun mobilizing support. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have pledged emergency assistance, including food supplies, temporary shelters, and medical aid. United Nations agencies are preparing to launch a coordinated relief effort once the full scale of the disaster becomes clear.
Hurricane Melissa is the first Category 5 storm to ever make landfall in Jamaica, a nation of nearly three million people. Experts say the storm’s unprecedented strength underscores growing concerns about the impact of climate change on tropical cyclone intensity in the Caribbean.
Africa Daily News, New York
