Port-au-Prince( The COW News Digital) The most powerful storm of the year, Hurricane Melissa, has begun battering parts of the Caribbean, bringing catastrophic winds, torrential rain, and widespread destruction. The Category 5 hurricane has already claimed three lives in Haiti, with thousands displaced and severe disruptions reported across the region.
According to international weather agencies, Melissa’s sustained wind speeds have reached 280 kilometers per hour (174 mph) — making it one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic basin this year. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the storm is moving northwest and is expected to make landfall in Jamaica within the next 24 hours before potentially striking eastern Cuba and the Bahamas.
In southern Haiti, relentless rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides, destroying homes and cutting off major roads. Over 3,000 people have been evacuated to government shelters, while authorities have suspended all domestic and international flights from Port-au-Prince and nearby airports.
Haitian officials confirmed three fatalities linked to collapsing structures and fast-moving floodwaters. Emergency response teams are working to rescue stranded residents, though access remains limited due to downed power lines and blocked routes.
In Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a state of emergency in coastal areas, warning that the island faces the potential for “widespread devastation.” Schools, businesses, and government offices have been closed, and residents have been urged to move to higher ground and secure essential supplies.
“We are preparing for the worst,” Prime Minister Holness said in a televised address. “This hurricane has the potential to cause historic damage, and our priority is saving lives.”
Satellite images show the storm’s massive eye spanning over 40 kilometers, with powerful outer bands extending hundreds of kilometers across the Caribbean Sea. Meteorologists predict storm surges up to 15 feet and rainfall exceeding 400 millimeters in some areas, increasing the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.
Aid organizations and regional governments are coordinating relief efforts, with the United Nations and Red Cross on standby for post-storm recovery.
Hurricane Melissa’s trajectory and intensity have drawn global concern as the Caribbean braces for what could become one of the most destructive storms of the decade.
