Hurricane Melissa leaves trail of destruction across northern Caribbean

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the northern Caribbean saw a significant upheaval, with more casualties afflicting numerous islands.

As workers and residents clear debris-choked roads to remote areas of Jamaica where one of the Atlantic’s most powerful hurricanes have been recorded, the urgent sounds of heavy machinery, chainsaws, and machetes predominate.

Afraid survivors navigate ruins, confronting homes without roofs and belongings that have been strewn through by violent winds and floodwaters.

Sylvester Guthrie, a sanitation worker from Lacovia in the southwest of Saint Elizabeth parish, praised his bicycle as the only item that survived, saying, “I do not have a house now.” He exhorted, “I have land in a different location that I can build back,” but “I will need assistance.”

Emergency flights have already started to reach Jamaica’s main international airport, which was operational on Wednesday night. Now, teams are distributing essential supplies, including food and water.

Minister of transportation in Jamaica, Daryl Vaz, praised the destruction as “heuchenomenal.”

Numerous survivors still face a pressing need for shelter. Sheryl Smith, whose home was partially destroyed, said, “I am now homeless, but I have hope because I have life.”

In southwest Jamaica, authorities found at least four bodies. Up to 90% of the roofs in the coastal town of Black River were destroyed, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness. He said, “Black River is what you would characterize as ground zero.” The people are still adjusting to the destruction, the statement read.

Western Jamaica has more than 25 000 residents who are still residing in shelters, and 77% of the island is experiencing power outages.

With winds reaching 295 kilometres per hour (185 miles per hour), Melissa’s winds, which match those of the Atlantic hurricane, recorded both for wind speed and barometric pressure, made it possible for the hurricane to landfall Jamaica on Tuesday. When it hit eastern Cuba on Wednesday, it had already weakened to Category 3.

At least 25 people have died and 18 others have been missing in Haiti as a result of the hurricane’s catastrophic flooding, primarily in the southern region.

With the aid of heavy equipment and military assistance, Cubans began clearing blocked thoroughfares and rescuing people who were stranded in remote, prone to landslides-affected areas.

More than 735, 000 people are gradually returning home after the civil defense evacuated eastern Cuba, but no deaths have been reported.

Late on Wednesday, hurricane conditions were still in effect in the southeast of the Bahamas and central Bermuda, with many people evacuating overnight.