{"id":100667,"date":"2025-10-31T15:04:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T15:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/hurricane-melissa-leaves-49-dead-in-caribbean-churns-north-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T15:04:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T15:04:14","slug":"hurricane-melissa-leaves-49-dead-in-caribbean-churns-north-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/hurricane-melissa-leaves-49-dead-in-caribbean-churns-north-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Melissa leaves 49 dead in Caribbean, churns north | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melissa tied as 2nd strongest Atlantic hurricane, causing up to $52 billion in Caribbean losses<\/p>\n

Debris lies in an affected area, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Black River, Jamaica, on October 30, 2025.PHOTO: REUTERS <\/p>\n

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Hurricane Melissa\u2019s confirmed death toll climbed to 49 on Thursday, according to official reports, after wreaking destruction across much of the northern Caribbean and picking up speed as it headed past Bermuda in the North Atlantic.<\/p>\n

Authorities in Haiti, which was not directly hit but suffered days of torrential rains from the slow-moving storm, reported at least 30 deaths and 20 more missing. At least 23 people, including 10 children, died in the southern town of Petit-Goave when a river burst its banks. Roads, houses, and farmlands were also damaged by the rains.<\/p>\n

In Jamaica, Information Minister confirmed at least 19 deaths, with search and rescue efforts still underway. The storm left hundreds of thousands without power, ripped roofs off buildings, and scattered fields with debris. Jamaica\u2019s military called on reserve personnel to assist in relief and rescue operations.<\/p>\n

Read More: <\/strong>Monster Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica<\/a><\/p>\n

Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane \u2014 the strongest-ever storm to directly hit the Caribbean nation, and the first major hurricane since 1988. Windspeeds were well above the threshold for the top hurricane category.<\/p>\n

Forecasters at AccuWeather said Melissa tied for second strongest Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of windspeed at landfall. They estimated $48 billion to $52 billion in damages and economic losses across the western Caribbean.<\/p>\n

In eastern Cuba, around 735,000 people were evacuated, but as of Thursday, no deaths were reported there despite widespread damage to homes and crops.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

At 11:00 p.m. (0300 GMT), Melissa was a Category 2 storm, located 264 km (164 miles) west of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (161 kph), according to the US National Hurricane Center.<\/p>\n

Bermuda authorities closed the causeway Thursday night and shut schools and ferries on Friday \u201cout of an abundance of caution.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the Bahamas, which Melissa swept through Wednesday night, storm warnings were lifted but the \u201call clear\u201d had not yet been issued. Officials said evacuees might be able to return home by Saturday.<\/p>\n

Wading barefoot through mud\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The front page of Thursday\u2019s Jamaica Observer newspaper read: \u201cDEVASTATION.\u201d<\/p>\n

Densely populated Kingston was spared the worst. Its main airport and port were set to reopen Thursday, and relief flights had begun arriving. However, more than 130 roads remained blocked by trees, debris, and power lines, forcing the military to clear paths on foot into isolated areas.<\/p>\n

Satellite imagery showed swaths of Jamaica\u2019s landscape stripped of greenery and homes destroyed.<\/p>\n

In Montego Bay, 77-year-old Alfred Hines waded barefoot through mud, recalling his escape from rising floodwaters.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt one stage, I see the water at my waist and after about 10 minutes, it was around my neck. I make my escape,\u201d he told Reuters. \u201cI just want to forget it and see things come back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across western Jamaica, residents crowded supermarkets and gas stations for supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cMontego Bay hasn\u2019t got any petrol,\u201d said British tourist Chevelle Fitzgerald. \u201cIt took at least six hours to cross to Kingston. The highway was closed and trees were falling down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over 70% of Jamaica\u2019s electrical customers remained without power as of Thursday morning, said Energy Minister Daryl Vaz. Many schools also lacked electricity and water.<\/p>\n

Immediate humanatarian aid\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scientists say hurricanes are intensifying faster and more often due to warming ocean waters caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Caribbean leaders have urged wealthy, high-emission nations to provide aid or debt relief as compensation for climate impacts.<\/p>\n

Also Read: <\/strong>Jamaica surveys ruins in hurricane’s wake<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite the UN establishing a fund in 2023 for developing nations to access rapid financing for extreme weather events, contributions have fallen short.<\/p>\n

AccuWeather said Melissa was the third most-intense hurricane ever observed in the Caribbean \u2014 and also its slowest-moving, worsening the devastation.<\/p>\n

U.S. search and rescue teams were en route to Jamaica on Thursday, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was ready to offer \u201cimmediate humanitarian aid\u201d to Cuba.<\/p>\n

Cuban authorities, who faced a Category 3 storm overnight, said they were \u201cawaiting clarification on how and in what way\u201d the aid would be delivered.<\/p>\n

At least 241 Cuban communities remained isolated on Wednesday after the storm crossed Santiago province, affecting up to 140,000 residents.<\/p>\n

In Santiago, Cuba\u2019s second-largest city, residents began returning to repair their homes. Authorities confirmed 735,000 people evacuated to shelters, with tourists in northern cays moved to inland hotels.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Melissa tied as 2nd strongest Atlantic hurricane, causing up to $52 billion in Caribbean losses Debris lies in an affected area, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Black River, Jamaica, on October 30, 2025.PHOTO: REUTERS Hurricane Melissa\u2019s confirmed death toll climbed to 49 on Thursday, according to official reports, after wreaking destruction across much of 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