The Fury of Hurricane Melissa: Jamaica Under Siege

According to Rokna, hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of nearly 185 mph, struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, unleashing catastrophic damage across the island. The powerful storm made landfall in the southwestern region, bringing torrential rains, life-threatening floods, and destructive winds that flattened homes and uprooted entire communities.

More than half a million residents were left without electricity as infrastructure collapsed under the storm’s force. Hospitals and emergency centers reported severe damage, and many roads and bridges remain impassable. In the hardest-hit areas, entire neighborhoods were submerged, forcing hundreds of families to flee to higher ground.

At least seven people across the Caribbean—three of them in Jamaica—have lost their lives, with officials warning that the toll may rise as rescue operations reach isolated regions. The country’s leadership has described the disaster as one of the most devastating events in Jamaica’s recent history, emphasizing the urgent need for unity, relief, and long-term recovery.

Even as Hurricane Melissa moves away from the island, heavy rainfall continues to trigger landslides and flash floods. The government has declared a national emergency and called for international assistance to help restore essential services and rebuild affected areas. For many Jamaicans, the road to recovery will be long, but their spirit of resilience remains unbroken in the face of nature’s fury.