Kingston, Jamaica – In an unprecedented move, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared the entirety of Jamaica a "disaster area" following the devastating landfall of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that has been described as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. The declaration comes amid widespread destruction, with entire towns submerged under floodwaters, critical infrastructure obliterated, and at least three confirmed deaths reported before the hurricane even made landfall. Government officials cautioned that the death toll could rise significantly, as a full assessment remains impossible due to ongoing severe weather and disrupted communications.
Melissa, the most powerful hurricane to strike Jamaica since recordkeeping began 174 years ago, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), slammed into the island's southern coast just after midday local time on Tuesday. Packing sustained winds of 185 mph at landfall, the storm unleashed persistent torrential rains that triggered massive flooding across the nation. The NHC issued a stark warning: "THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION!" Michael Brennan, director of the NHC, emphasized the peril, stating that officials anticipate a "very dangerous scenario" with winds potentially escalating to as high as 200 mph in the storm's core.
Although Melissa has since weakened to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph, it continues to spin menacingly over the island, prolonging the catastrophe. The hurricane is expected to carve a diagonal path across Jamaica, entering near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St. Ann parish in the north. Jamaican weather authorities have issued red hurricane warnings blanket-covering the entire country, remaining in effect until midnight, with hurricane-force conditions forecasted to persist well into Wednesday.
The Red Cross has labeled Melissa the "storm of the century," predicting it will impact approximately 1,500,000 people in Jamaica alone. Residents have been urged to remain sheltered as risks of continued flooding, landslides, and storm surges escalate. A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet is anticipated along the southern coast, compounding the already dire flooding.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the destruction. Lisa Sangster, a 30-year-old communications specialist in Kingston, described the devastation to her family home. "My sister… explained that parts of our roof was blown off and other parts caved in and the entire house was flooded," she said. "Outside structures like our outdoor kitchen, dog kennel and farm animal pens were also gone, destroyed." Sangster's experience is echoed across the island, where southwestern communities report winds tearing off roofs, uprooting trees, and flooding gardens with relentless rainfall.
Floodwaters are coursing through southern coastal parishes, including St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Westmoreland, and St. James. In St. Elizabeth, the roof of St. Elizabeth Technical High School was partially torn off by the howling winds. Black River, the parish capital, is "deteriorating by the minute," according to its mayor, as rising waters and debris overwhelm local response efforts.
Critical infrastructure has borne the brunt of Melissa's fury. At least four hospitals have sustained severe damage from the winds, prompting evacuations of patients and staff from lower floors to higher levels. All hospitals across Jamaica have activated emergency protocols, suspending outpatient services, elective surgeries, and limiting visitations, health officials confirmed. Jamaica's climate change minister, speaking to CNN, described the impacts as "catastrophic," highlighting flooded homes, "severely damaged public infrastructure," and the incapacitation of multiple medical facilities.
Power and communication outages are exacerbating the crisis. The Jamaica Public Service, the island's sole electrical provider, reports that at least 35% of households are without power. Mobile network operator Digicel stated that more than a quarter of its networks are offline, with internet connectivity plummeting to just 42%. Roads are impassable in many areas, blocked by fallen trees, boulders, floodwaters, and dangling power lines torn loose by the gale-force winds. These blockages are particularly hazardous for rural, vulnerable communities, isolating them from aid and emergency services.
Mathue Tapper, a 31-year-old resident in the capital, expressed relief for Kingston's relative sparing but deep concern for those in harder-hit regions. "My heart goes out to the folks living on the Western end of the island," he said. Tapper's sentiments underscore a growing divide in the storm's impact, with urban areas like Kingston facing significant but manageable damage compared to the rural west and south, where entire towns remain underwater and infrastructure has been "incinerated," as initial reports describe.
The scale of the damage is not yet fully clear, with comprehensive assessments likely taking days to complete. Much of the island remains in the grip of the storm's remnants, even as its eye moves onward. Authorities have warned of persistent risks from landslides in hilly terrains and secondary flooding from swollen rivers and overwhelmed drainage systems.
Hurricane Melissa's strength places it among the Atlantic basin's most intense storms ever recorded, surpassing previous benchmarks for Jamaica. The NHC's historical data confirms it as the island's strongest hitter in nearly two centuries, fueled by unusually warm ocean waters amid broader climate patterns. As the hurricane lingers, emergency teams are mobilizing where possible, but the combination of wind, rain, and surge continues to hinder relief efforts.
Prime Minister Holness's disaster declaration activates national and international aid protocols, paving the way for federal resources and potential foreign assistance. Residents are advised to heed evacuation orders where issued and avoid travel until conditions stabilize. The Jamaican government has set up emergency shelters, though access remains challenging in flooded zones.
As night falls on a battered Jamaica, the nation braces for another day of Melissa's wrath. With hurricane conditions expected to lash the island into tomorrow, the focus remains on survival and safeguarding lives amid what officials call an unfolding humanitarian crisis. The Red Cross and local agencies are appealing for donations and support, while global eyes turn to the Caribbean as Melissa's path threatens further regional impacts post-Jamaica.
This event marks a somber milestone in Jamaica's history, testing the resilience of its people and systems against nature's most ferocious display. Updates will follow as communications restore and assessments progress.
