Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that the death toll from Hurricane Melissa, which devastated the Caribbean nation last week, has risen to 28. The storm made landfall on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake.
The full extent of the damage was only beginning to become clear as communication systems and power remained out for many areas, making it difficult for aid agencies to reach those in need. Communities on Jamaica's western coast, including Black River and Montego Bay, were among the hardest hit.
Images showed buildings reduced to rubble, streets littered with debris and belongings, and entire neighborhoods still underwater. The Red Cross reported that 72% of people across Jamaica did not have electricity, while around 6,000 were taking shelter in emergency facilities.
As aid began to arrive, reports emerged of desperate individuals entering supermarkets and pharmacies to gather food and medicine. Landslides, downed power lines, and fallen trees had rendered many roads impassable, complicating the distribution of aid.
Hurricane Melissa has become the most powerful storm on record to hit Jamaica, with sustained winds of 185mph (295km/h). The category five hurricane brought catastrophic damage, particularly in Haiti, where at least 31 people have been killed. In Cuba, thousands were evacuated as over 60,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
The impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of storms remains unclear, but warmer sea surface temperatures are believed to contribute to more frequent and intense hurricanes. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity this year, highlighting the growing concern about extreme weather events.
The full extent of the damage was only beginning to become clear as communication systems and power remained out for many areas, making it difficult for aid agencies to reach those in need. Communities on Jamaica's western coast, including Black River and Montego Bay, were among the hardest hit.
Images showed buildings reduced to rubble, streets littered with debris and belongings, and entire neighborhoods still underwater. The Red Cross reported that 72% of people across Jamaica did not have electricity, while around 6,000 were taking shelter in emergency facilities.
As aid began to arrive, reports emerged of desperate individuals entering supermarkets and pharmacies to gather food and medicine. Landslides, downed power lines, and fallen trees had rendered many roads impassable, complicating the distribution of aid.
Hurricane Melissa has become the most powerful storm on record to hit Jamaica, with sustained winds of 185mph (295km/h). The category five hurricane brought catastrophic damage, particularly in Haiti, where at least 31 people have been killed. In Cuba, thousands were evacuated as over 60,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
The impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of storms remains unclear, but warmer sea surface temperatures are believed to contribute to more frequent and intense hurricanes. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity this year, highlighting the growing concern about extreme weather events.
i was just reading that jamaica lost power to like 72% of its homes is that even possible? how do people survive without electricity and water? can we get a video of those supermarkets and pharmacies where ppl were taking food and meds? did it have something to do with climate change or wasnt the weather forecast right?
! 28 people dead and who knows how many injured? It's like the whole country got blown to kingdom come 
. And that's not even mentioning Haiti and Cuba, which are also taking a huge beating 
. I mean, what's going on with our planet?! Climate change is like, literally destroying us all 
. We're still trying to figure out how it works, but it's clear that warmer oceans = more intense hurricanes = DISASTER 
. And meanwhile, the aid is finally starting to trickle in, but it's like, too little, too late 
. People are still stuck without power and food, and supermarkets are being looted... like, what's next?! 
i feel like we need to do more to prepare for these kinds of disasters. climate change is a big deal and we need to take action ASAP 
maybe investin in renewable energy sources and sustainable infrastructure would be a good start?
. Warmer sea surface temps are clearly making storms more frequent & intense. It's not like we're gonna sit back and do nothing about it either... hopefully govts & aid agencies can get the help to those in need ASAP 
. The world needs to come together to support ppl affected by climate disasters like this 
. We need to be better prepared for these kinds of disasters. And what's really sad is that people are having to enter supermarkets and pharmacies to get food and medicine... it's just not right 
.
especially 4 Haiti where like 31 ppl lost their lives 
the fact that climate change is makin these storms more intense is just heartbreaking 
we gotta keep workin towards a greener future 
It's like something out of a movie. I feel so bad for the people who lost everything - homes, belongings, livelihoods... it's just not right. 
. And the roads are impassable because of landslides and fallen trees? It's like the storm made it impossible to even reach those in need 