Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28, becoming the strongest hurricane recorded in the island in 174 years. The storm crossed the island diagonally, entering near Santa Isabel parish in the south and exiting near Santa Ana parish in the north.

Melissa’s destructive force caused widespread flooding, fallen trees, destroyed roofs, and landslides, leaving 77% of the island without electricity as of Wednesday. More than 25,000 people were relocated to shelters amid the storm.

The most severe damage occurred in the western and southwestern coast, including popular tourist areas like Montego Bay, Negril, and St. Elizabeth, with hotels affected and evacuations of guests. Montego Bay International Airport sustained significant damage and remained temporarily closed.

Melissa continued toward Cuba, making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, forcing 735,000 people into shelters in the eastern part of the country. Haiti also suffered severe impacts, with at least 25 fatalities due to flooding, while Jamaica and the Dominican Republic reported four and one deaths, respectively.

Currently, Melissa is moving over the southeast Bahamas, downgraded to Category 2 but growing in size, with storm surges expected up to 2 meters (7 feet). By Thursday night, it is forecasted to pass just west of Bermuda.

Authorities and international organizations, including the United States, United Kingdom, and the UN, remain on standby to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to affected communities.