It has caused a humanitarian and material catastrophe in the Caribbean, leaving at least 32 dead, dozens missing, and some US$8 billion in economic losses, according to the latest estimates. Its devastating passage severely affected Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, destroying homes, collapsing infrastructure, and forcing thousands of people to flee. The associated winds, flooding, and widespread power outages have left dozens of communities cut off and without access to essential services, while authorities and international organizations coordinate initial relief efforts and damage assessments.
According to data from the EFE news agency, of the total number of deaths reported so far, at least 23 were in Haiti. Reports also indicate that 13 people remain missing, most as a result of flash floods such as that of the La Digue River in Petit-Goâve, where nearly 10 adults and the same number of children lost their lives. Official data reports that 13,860 people have been displaced and more than a dozen rivers are overflowing, affecting roads, homes, and basic services. The same source indicates that torrential rains continued to batter regions of Haiti days after the hurricane passed, leaving entire communities vulnerable.
The island of Jamaica remains in a state of emergency after the declaration of a “disaster zone” for the affected areas. Bloomberg, citing sources from the Minister of Community Development and Disaster Response, Desmond McKenzie, indicated that at least eight people may have died, although the official death toll recognized by the government remains at four. The catastrophe on the island is compounded by extensive damage to infrastructure: more than 500,000 people are without electricity, tens of thousands are homeless, and more than 25,000 Jamaicans are in emergency shelters. The situation has left many families without communication due to the collapse of the telephone network and the lack of power, and airports have been closed, affecting some 25,000 international tourists.
The economic damage in Jamaica is devastating. According to Chuck Watson, an expert at Enki Research quoted by Bloomberg, “current estimates are around US$7.7 billion, that’s roughly 35% of the island’s gross domestic product.” Bloomberg adds that the cost associated with Hurricane Melissa far exceeds the damage caused by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Watson attributed the magnitude of the losses to the slow advance and exceptional humidity of this weather phenomenon, which contributed to the widespread destruction of homes and buildings, as well as the prolonged disruption of basic services and transportation.
In Cuba, EFE reported that the eastern part of the island experienced a “very complex early morning,” according to President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Millions of people were left without electricity, and many communities were cut off due to flooding caused by overflowing rivers and dams, as well as the collapse of infrastructure. The initial official report from Civil Defense did not record any deaths or missing persons in the country, although it acknowledged significant damage in rural and urban municipalities. Among the affected buildings is the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, a religious icon for the Cuban people. Testimonies collected by EFE recount nights of terror among residents, as in the case of Eliécer, 43, who described how his house “wanted to shake” and turned to faith as the floodwaters rose to over a meter high.
In the Dominican Republic, the impact of Melissa resulted in one death and disruption of the drinking water supply for more than one million people, due to damage to dozens of aqueducts and heavy rains, according to EFE. Panama, meanwhile, recorded four deaths—three of them minors—and around 1,100 people affected in several provinces. The hurricane's indirect effects, through intense rainfall, caused landslides, river flooding, and significant material damage both in Panama and in other affected areas.
The passage of Melissa through the Caribbean left not only physical destruction in its wake, but also serious social and economic consequences. In Jamaica, less than 10% of single-family homes are insured, which implies “serious financial and social disruptions” for the population, warned Firas Saleh, director of insurance solutions at Moody’s, in a conversation with Bloomberg. Watson, from Enki Research, remarked that “this was a very slow and very wet storm,” which intensified the damage compared to faster-moving hurricanes.
Hurricane Melissa is heading toward the Bahamas, where the US National Hurricane Center, cited by both agencies, warned of imminent hurricane conditions, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rainfall, as well as potential storm surge in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In the Bahamas, the storm is expected to regain strength, increasing its category and the potential for further structural damage.
The international and local response to the emergency has been underway. The U.S. State Department indicated, according to Bloomberg, that its emergency personnel are already traveling to Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas to assist in disaster management and the distribution of humanitarian aid, including food, water, and shelter supplies. The United Kingdom announced the deployment of a Royal Navy ship and rapid response teams, committed to providing “full support” to Jamaica, in the words of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Private companies and organizations have also contributed: Elon Musk’s Starlink is providing satellite communications to isolated communities in Jamaica.
Local authorities in Jamaica, in coordination with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), have requested the urgent provision of mattresses, pillows, and chainsaws for shelters and cleanup efforts. Reports from the affected areas describe historic material losses, with entire neighborhoods flooded, hospitals destroyed, and families still searching for missing members. Meanwhile, rescue, damage assessment, and assistance to displaced people continue, while Hurricane Melissa's progress toward new areas is being monitored.
