Hurricane Melissa: Catastrophic Landfalls in Jamaica and Cuba Bring Death and Devastation to Caribbean
Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, caused catastrophic damage and seven deaths across the Caribbean, making landfalls in Jamaica and eastern Cuba.
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Overview
- Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds, made catastrophic landfall in Jamaica, the strongest storm to hit the island in over 170 years.
- Weakening to a Category 3, Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba near Chivirico with 115-125 mph winds, prompting extensive hurricane warnings and alerts across several provinces.
- Cuban authorities evacuated over 700,000 people and put six provinces on alert, moving hundreds of thousands to shelters to mitigate the storm's severe impact.
- Melissa caused extreme danger of flash floods, landslides, and widespread damage across Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Cuba, tragically resulting in seven reported deaths.
- The hurricane's impact, including potential 12-foot storm surges and 20 inches of rain, threatens to exacerbate Cuba's economic crisis, causing prolonged power blackouts and shortages.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources are neutral, focusing on factual reporting of Hurricane Melissa's impact. They detail its trajectory, strength, and the immediate consequences for Cuba and Jamaica, including evacuations, damage, and official responses. The coverage prioritizes objective information, avoiding loaded language or selective emphasis, to inform readers about the natural disaster.
"Hurricane Melissa has already caused several deaths and injuries, stranding tourists and residents as they seek shelter and safety during the catastrophic storm."
USA TODAY"The hurricane could worsen Cuba's severe economic crisis, which already has led to prolonged power blackouts, fuel shortages and food shortages."
NPR"The hurricane could worsen Cuba’s severe economic crisis, which already has led to prolonged power blackouts, as well as fuel and food shortages."
Associated Press"Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, marking what is forecasted to be a devastating weather event, the worst in the country's history."
ABC News"The effects on the island are sure to be catastrophic and prolonged."
ARS Technica"Hurricane Melissa intensified Tuesday before making landfall in Jamaica, where officials and residents braced for catastrophic winds, flash flooding and landslides from the Category 5 storm, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history."
NPR"Hurricane Melissa, an intense Category 5 storm, threatened to bring catastrophic winds, heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides as it tracked through the northern Caribbean and made landfall in southwestern Jamaica Tuesday."
Associated Press"The western side of Jamaica is being pummeled by wind; the coast line is being flooded by a storm surge that could reach 13 feet."
NPR"Hurricane Melissa is barreling into the Caribbean island of Jamaica on Tuesday, Oct. 28, with sustained winds over 180 mph, potentially more than two feet of rain and a life-threatening storm surge."
USA TODAY"Hurricane Melissa is set to make landfall on the southern coast of Jamaica on the morning of Oct. 28, bringing with it catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and storm surge, according to the National Hurricane Center."
USA TODAY"Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Melissa is forecast to slam the southern coast of Jamaica on Tuesday morning with sustained winds of up to 180 mph, even higher gusts and a life-threatening storm surge, leaving a wake of destruction across the island before focusing its ferocity on southeastern Cuba."
USA TODAY"Hurricane Melissa was about to pummel Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago."
CBS News"Hurricane Melissa, a storm with the potential to be the strongest hurricane ever to strike Jamaica, is expected to make landfall at around 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday."
Gizmodo"Hurricane Melissa was set to pummel Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago."
Associated Press"Hurricane Melissa's intensity and slow-moving pace across the Caribbean will likely worsen its impacts, threatening to trigger severe flooding and catastrophic landslides."
NPR"The storm's booming strength and slow movement make for a deadly combination, drawing out the devastating impact the storm has on populated areas."
Gizmodo"Nevertheless, it’s difficult to prepare for a hurricane like this."
ARS Technica"People in Jamaica are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which is forecast to unleash destructive winds and bring catastrophic flooding to the Caribbean nation in the coming hours."
BBC News"Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a Category 5 storm and is forecast to bring destructive winds and storm surge and "catastrophic flooding" to Jamaica through the day, according to the National Hurricane Center."
USA TODAY"The storm already has dropped heavy rain in the Dominican Republic, where schools and government offices were ordered to remain closed on Monday in four of nine provinces still under red alert."
Chicago Tribune"Hurricane Melissa intensified to a powerful Category 5 storm early Monday as forecasters warned it would cause catastrophic flash flooding, life-threatening landslides and extremely strong winds across the Caribbean."
NBC News"Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a major Category 4 storm, producing maximum sustained wind speeds of 145 mph."
ABC News"The storm already has dropped heavy rain in the Dominican Republic, where schools and government offices were ordered to remain closed on Monday in four of nine provinces still under red alert."
Associated PressArticles (63)
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FAQ
Hurricane Melissa has severely compromised Jamaica's infrastructure, particularly its power systems, with over 530,000 customers—about 77%—losing electricity islandwide. Restoration efforts are prioritizing hospitals and water stations, but a full assessment of all infrastructure and agricultural damage, especially in St. Elizabeth, the country's breadbasket, is still underway.
Cuban authorities evacuated more than 700,000 people, placed six provinces on alert, and moved hundreds of thousands to shelters to minimize the storm's impact. Extensive hurricane warnings and alerts were issued ahead of Melissa's landfall in eastern Cuba near Chivirico.
Hurricane Melissa has resulted in at least seven reported deaths across Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Specific details on injuries and further casualties have not yet been detailed in the available information.
Hurricane Melissa brought extreme danger of flash floods, landslides, and heavy rainfall—potentially up to 20 inches—across affected regions. Storm surges of up to 12 feet were also possible, particularly threatening low-lying coastal areas.
The extensive damage and prolonged power blackouts caused by Hurricane Melissa are expected to exacerbate Cuba's existing economic crisis, likely leading to shortages and further straining the country's recovery efforts.
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