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The Catastrophic Wake of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean

Tuesday, 11 November 2025 22:50

Summary

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, delivered a catastrophic blow to the Caribbean in late October 2025, becoming the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in Jamaica and causing widespread devastation across Cuba and Haiti. The storm's extreme rapid intensification was linked to exceptionally warm ocean waters, a condition made hundreds of times more likely by human-caused climate change. The immediate aftermath saw nearly six million people affected, with critical infrastructure destroyed, leading to an estimated economic loss equivalent to 30% of Jamaica's Gross Domestic Product. International aid agencies, including the United Nations and the World Food Programme, mobilised a massive, multi-million-dollar response to address the urgent humanitarian crisis, which included mass displacement, food insecurity, and the challenge of clearing millions of tonnes of debris to reach cut-off communities.

A Storm of Unprecedented Intensity

Tropical Storm Melissa formed in the central Caribbean Sea on 21 October 2025, beginning a meteorological history that would culminate in one of the most destructive storms on record for the region3,8. The system underwent a period of extreme rapid intensification, a process where its maximum sustained winds increased by at least 50 knots within 24 hours9. Melissa's maximum wind speed increased by 70 mph in a single 24-hour period, fuelled by exceptionally warm ocean waters that were 2.5°F (1.4°C) warmer than average9. Scientists have since determined that these sea surface temperatures, which provided the immense destructive energy for the storm, were made 500 to 900 times more likely by human-caused climate change6,9. The storm attained Category 5 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale on 27 October, reaching peak intensity with sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h)5,8. This intensity tied Melissa with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane as the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record8. On 28 October, Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Westmoreland, becoming the strongest hurricane ever to strike Jamaica, surpassing the intensity of Hurricane Gilbert in 19885,8,13. After crossing Jamaica, the storm weakened but remained a formidable threat, striking eastern Cuba near Chivirico on 29 October as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h)3,8,11. The storm's slow movement across the Caribbean allowed it to gather immense energy, exposing millions of people to its destructive power6.

The Catastrophic Impact on Jamaica

The landfall of the Category 5 storm in Jamaica resulted in catastrophic damage, particularly across the western and central regions of the island12,17. Initial assessments indicated that the economic damage was equivalent to approximately 30% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a figure that was expected to rise as full assessments continued12. The storm generated nearly five million metric tons of debris, a volume that would require an estimated 500,000 standard truckloads to clear12,17. This massive volume of rubble, vegetation, and household waste blocked roads, obstructed access to schools, hospitals, clinics, farms, and markets, severely slowing the delivery of relief supplies and the restoration of essential services17. At one point, at least 75% of the island was without electricity, and telecommunications remained unstable more than a week after the storm3,10. Over 1.5 million Jamaicans were impacted by the storm, which was described as the worst climate disaster in the nation's history11,18. The parish of St. Elizabeth, known as the country's 'breadbasket,' was particularly hard hit, with homes, farms, and livelihoods destroyed4,10. Tens of thousands of homes were damaged, with some towns decimated and up to 90% of buildings in certain areas impacted17. The confirmed death toll in Jamaica reached 45, with 15 people still missing as of 11 November19. Approximately 125,000 residents were displaced, with thousands seeking refuge in emergency shelters3,6.

Devastation and Displacement in Cuba and Haiti

Following its passage over Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa brought widespread devastation to eastern Cuba, where it struck as a Category 3 storm3,11. The storm caused extensive flooding, power outages, and heavy damage, with crops lost and numerous buildings partially or fully destroyed4. Over 700,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm, a crucial preparedness measure3. However, the storm still severely affected an estimated 2.2 million people across the eastern provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo18. More than 54,000 people were unable to return to their homes, with 7,500 remaining in official shelters15,19. The scale of infrastructure damage was immense, with over 90,000 homes, more than 600 health facilities, and over 1,500 educational centres sustaining damage15,18,19. Communication failures were widespread, with 241 communities still without access to communication a week after the hurricane, affecting more than 140,000 people6. The storm's path also brought heavy rain and flooding to the neighbouring countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti6. Haiti, already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, experienced significant, localised flooding, particularly along the southern coast4,6. Authorities in Haiti reported 40 deaths and 13 missing people across seven departments, with homes and infrastructure washed away11,14. The total confirmed death toll across the affected Caribbean islands reached at least 75 people7,12.

The Global Humanitarian Response

The scale of the disaster necessitated a massive and coordinated international humanitarian response, with nearly six million people affected across the Caribbean16. The United Nations system and its partners immediately scaled up operations under national leadership11,14. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) launched an urgent appeal for US$74 million to deliver life-saving assistance to up to 1.1 million people across the impacted countries and to coordinate emergency logistics4. In Cuba, the UN System launched a US$74 million Plan of Action to assist one million people across the four eastern provinces7,18. WFP's efforts in Cuba aimed to assist 900,000 people with emergency food assistance for three months, with half of those requiring an additional three months of support4,16. In Jamaica, the UN allocated US$4 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)11,14. WFP airlifted an initial 2,000 food kits from its Caribbean Regional Logistics Hub in Barbados and planned to assist up to 200,000 people through a mix of in-kind food and cash transfers4,16. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its national societies mobilised extensive volunteer networks10. The Jamaica Red Cross mobilised 400 volunteers for damage assessment and relief distribution, while the Cuban Red Cross had over 35,000 active volunteers10. The United States also authorised an immediate response, deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team and urban search-and-rescue teams to the region5. Despite the rapid mobilisation, the delivery of aid was severely hampered by the destruction of infrastructure10,11. The inability to transport 40,000 tarpaulins due to blocked and damaged roads highlighted the critical shelter concern in Jamaica15,19. The overwhelming volume of debris and the isolation of communities presented a persistent logistical challenge for all relief agencies7,17.

Conclusion

Hurricane Melissa served as a stark demonstration of the escalating threat posed by climate change to vulnerable island nations, with its extreme intensity linked directly to unnaturally warm ocean temperatures6,9. The storm's catastrophic impact, which wiped out an estimated one-third of Jamaica's annual economic output and displaced hundreds of thousands across the Greater Antilles, underscores the urgent need for enhanced climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure12,18. While the immediate humanitarian response was swift and coordinated, the long-term recovery for Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti will be a multi-year undertaking, requiring sustained international investment beyond the initial emergency appeals4,12. The sheer volume of debris and the extensive damage to essential services like healthcare and education facilities present a complex challenge that will define the region's development trajectory for the foreseeable future15,17. The disaster has forced a critical re-evaluation of preparedness strategies, as the intensity of storms now tests the 'soft limits' of adaptation, demanding a global commitment to both emissions reduction and financial support for climate-vulnerable states6.

References

  1. Hurricane Melissa Devastates Multiple Islands in the Caribbean - JW.ORG

    Provides the formation date (Oct 21, 2025), landfall details for Jamaica (Cat 5, Oct 28, 185 mph) and Cuba (Cat 3, Oct 29), displacement figures (125,000 in Jamaica, 700,000+ evacuated in Cuba), and initial death toll/damage overview.

  2. WFP ramps up life-saving food assistance as Hurricane Melissa leaves a path of devastation across the Caribbean

    Details the WFP's response, including the US$74 million appeal, the number of people WFP plans to assist in Jamaica (200,000) and Cuba (900,000), the impact on St. Elizabeth parish, and anticipatory payments in Haiti.

  3. Responding to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Cuba, Bermuda, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos Islands

    Confirms the Category 5 landfall in Jamaica (New Hope, 185 mph), the widespread damage across multiple islands, and the immediate US government response, including the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team.

  4. Climate change enhanced intensity of Hurricane Melissa, testing limits of adaptation in Jamaica and eastern Cuba - World Weather Attribution

    Provides critical context on climate change's role, noting the storm's slow movement, the exceptional strength, the Cat 5 landfall in Jamaica and Cat 3 in Cuba, the number of people exposed (2.6M Jamaicans, 3.8M Cubans), and the damage to critical infrastructure. It also mentions the 241 communities in Cuba without communication and the concept of 'soft limits to adaptation'.

  5. The Caribbean: Hurricane Melissa - Flash Update No. 5 (as of 8 November 2025) - Jamaica

    Offers key figures as of 8 Nov 2025: 5 million people affected across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, 75 deaths, 770,000+ displaced/evacuated, 4.8 million tonnes of debris in Jamaica, 30 cut-off communities in Jamaica, and the US$74 million UN Plan of Action for Cuba.

  6. Hurricane Melissa - Wikipedia

    Confirms the meteorological history, including formation date (Oct 21), peak intensity (Cat 5, 185 mph), status as the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica, and the Cat 3 landfall in Cuba.

  7. Hurricane Melissa (2025) | Climate Central

    Details the extreme rapid intensification (70 mph increase in 24 hours), the role of warm ocean waters (2.5°F warmer), and the climate change attribution (500 to 900 times more likely).

  8. Red Cross Movement working tirelessly in Caribbean after Hurricane Melissa causes catastrophic damage

    Describes the devastation in Jamaica (collapsed roads, destroyed crops) and the Red Cross response, including the mobilisation of 400 volunteers in Jamaica and 35,000 in Cuba, and the logistical challenges of blocked roads.

  9. The Caribbean: Hurricane Melissa - Flash Update No. 4 (as of 4 November 2025) - Jamaica

    Confirms the Cat 5 landfall in Jamaica (Oct 28) and Cat 3 in Cuba (Oct 29), the 1.5-1.6 million people affected in Jamaica, the US$4 million CERF allocation to Jamaica, and the death toll/missing persons in Haiti (40 deaths, 13 missing).

  10. UNDP: Hurricane Melissa damage equals 30% of Jamaica's GDP - Yeni Safak English

    Crucial for the economic impact, stating the damage is equivalent to 30% of Jamaica's GDP and detailing the nearly 5 million metric tons of debris generated.

  11. How to Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Melissa - Time Magazine

    Confirms the Cat 5 landfall in Jamaica (185 mph) and its status as the strongest storm to hit the island in 174 years, and mentions the initial death toll in Jamaica and Haiti.

  12. The Caribbean: Hurricane Melissa - Flash Update No. 4 (as of 4 November 2025) - OCHA

    Provides the total confirmed death toll (72 as of Nov 4), the CERF allocation to Jamaica, and the situation overview for Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, including the number of people affected in Jamaica (1.5-1.6 million).

  13. Caribbean Reels as Hurricane Melissa Relief Ramps Up | Mirage News

    Gives updated figures for Cuba (54,000+ displaced, 90,000 homes, 600+ health facilities affected) and highlights the logistical issue of 40,000 tarpaulins being undeliverable due to blocked roads in Jamaica.

  14. Nearly 6 million people in the Caribbean impacted by Hurricane Melissa - UN News

    States the total number of people affected across the Caribbean (nearly 6 million) and provides WFP assistance targets for Jamaica (200,000) and Cuba (900,000).

  15. More than 4.8 million tonnes of debris left by Hurricane Melissa across western Jamaica, according to UN Development Programme analysis

    Focuses on the debris problem in Jamaica, confirming the 4.8 million tonnes figure, the impact on infrastructure access, and the damage to tens of thousands of homes.

  16. Nearly a third of Jamaica's annual wealth wiped out by Hurricane Melissa | UN News

    Reiterates the economic damage to Jamaica (worst climate disaster, 1.5M affected) and provides key figures for Cuba (2.2 million in dire need, 120,000 in shelters, 45,000+ housing structures, 500 health facilities, 1,500 educational centres damaged).

  17. Death toll from Hurricane Melissa rises to 45 in Jamaica, with 15 others still missing

    Provides the most recent death toll for Jamaica (45 confirmed, 15 missing) and updated figures for Cuba's damaged infrastructure (90,000 homes, 600+ health facilities) and the shelter issue in Jamaica.