Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:27pm on 30 Oct 2025,Thursday Weather & Environment
Hurricane Melissa's devastating Caribbean rampage killed at least 32 people across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba before weakening from Category 5 to Category 1. The strongest storm in Caribbean modern history sustained peak winds of 298 km/h exceeding Hurricane Katrina's force. Jamaica's St Elizabeth parish suffered worst, submerged in knee-deep mud with severed communications and washed-out bridges isolating Black River. Cuba's Santiago de Cuba faced considerable damage as residents machete-cleared debris-buried streets. Haiti reported 23 deaths, including 10 children, from flooding despite avoiding direct impact. Nearly 1,500 Bahamians evacuated as Melissa accelerated toward Bermuda Thursday. Power lines and mobile networks collapsed across southwestern Jamaica, leaving families days without contact. Amid devastation, a baby was safely delivered under emergency conditions.
