19 dead as Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica

Jamaica confronts massive destruction after Hurricane Melissa tore through the nation on Tuesday, striking near New Hope in Westmoreland parish shortly before noon with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. The Category 5 system has become the most powerful storm ever to hit the island directly, leaving 19 people dead and triggering catastrophic flooding, mudslides and structural devastation. St. Elizabeth parish absorbed the worst damage, though Hanover, St. James, Trelawny, Manchester and Westmoreland also faced severe impacts. Eastern areas, including St. Thomas and Portland, experienced coastal flooding, while Kingston and central regions largely escaped major harm.

Five hospitals sustained critical damage: Falmouth Hospital, Noel Holmes Hospital, Cornwall Regional Hospital, Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital and Black River Hospital, which faced powerful storm surge and flooding. In Alligator Pond, three beachfront homes washed into the ocean while approximately 30 others lost roofs. Residents along Coast Road remain cut off by floodwaters. Little Ochi and Oswald Seafood restaurants require extensive repairs. Prime Minister Andrew Holness conducted aerial damage surveys and posted messages of resilience online, launching a government relief website at supportjamaica.gov.jm. The storm previously battered Haiti before moving toward Cuba and the Bahamas.