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. 77 percent of the country has been left in darkness due to strong winds and rain. 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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Hurricane Melissa, which arose in the Caribbean Sea, became more powerful by late night on Sunday (26 October 2025). According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), this storm can now reach Category 5, which means its wind speed can exceed 250 kilometers per hour.

It is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had already warned that a higher than average number of storms could be seen this season.

Current position and speed of the storm
As of Sunday night, Melissa’s center was about 205 kilometers south-southwest of Jamaica’s capital Kingston and about 495 kilometers south-west of Cuba’s Guantanamo. This storm is moving towards the west at a speed of about 7 kilometers per hour. Its wind speed has been recorded at 230 kilometers per hour. NHC has warned that this storm could reach Category 5 status by Monday and affect Jamaica by Tuesday morning and Cuba and Bahamas by Wednesday (October 29, 2025).

State of emergency in Jamaica, airports closed

Extensive preparations have been started in Jamaica even before the impact of Hurricane Melissa. The government has closed both Norman Manley International (Kingston) and Sangster International (Montego Bay) airports. Residents of coastal areas like Old Harbor Bay have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said that more than 650 relief camps have been opened in Jamaica and thousands of food packets have been kept ready in advance. However, officials have expressed concern that many people are not following evacuation orders, which could make the situation more serious.

Danger of heavy rain and flood

According to NHC, Jamaica and southern Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic) may receive 30 to 40 inches (up to 1 meter) of rain. There is a serious possibility of landslides, floods and power cuts due to such rains. Jamaica Meteorological Service director Ivan Thompson warned that storm surges could prove most destructive in the southern part of the island. There is a possibility of flood in every area, so people living in low-lying areas should immediately move to safe places. The NHC also said storm surge could reach up to 13 feet (4 meters) above ground level, inundating coastal areas.

Devastation in Haiti and Dominican Republic
At least four deaths have been confirmed so far, including three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. Three people died and 5 were injured when a wall collapsed due to heavy rains in Haiti’s Sainte-Suzanne area. Due to heavy rains the water level of rivers has increased and many bridges have been washed away. Officials said that many villages have been completely cut off, making it difficult to deliver relief material.

Warning for Cuba and Bahamas
According to NHC’s forecast, the storm will affect eastern parts of Cuba by late night on Tuesday (28 October 2025). The Cuban government has issued a hurricane warning for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Holguín, while a tropical storm warning has been issued for Las Tunas. There is a possibility of rain up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in Cuba. At the same time, the Bahamas Meteorological Department said that the south-eastern and central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands may come under the influence of the storm by the beginning of next week.

NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rome said that the situation in Jamaica and surrounding areas could deteriorate rapidly. People should be prepared for difficult conditions for several days. Meteorologists are calling it one of the most powerful Caribbean hurricanes in the last several years. He says that due to climate change, both the intensity and frequency of tropical storms are increasing in the Atlantic region.

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