Image of the impact of Hurricane Melissa

At least 19 people have died in Jamaica as a result of Hurricane Melissa, according to Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon, as search and rescue efforts continue and authorities struggle to get aid to hard-hit areas. The hurricane, one of the most powerful to strike the Caribbean in recent years, has also killed at least 30 people in Haiti, officials confirmed.

In Jamaica, Dixon said, “There are entire communities that seem to be marooned and areas that seem to be flattened,” describing the scenes in the western regions as “devastating.” Electricity remains cut off across most of the island, and many residents are desperately trying to salvage what is left of their homes and belongings from floodwaters and mud. Several areas have been without clean water for days, and food supplies are running low.

Although aid supplies have started arriving more steadily with the reopening of the main airport in Kingston, smaller regional airports near the most affected communities remain only partly operational. This has forced aid agencies and the military to transport supplies by road, many of which remain impassable due to flooding and landslides. Satellite imagery shows that nearly all buildings in some villages have been destroyed.

Residents in western Jamaica told the BBC that words cannot describe the level of devastation. “No one is able to get through to their loved ones,” said Trevor Whyte from the town of White House in Westmoreland Parish. “Every tree is on the road, right, so you can’t get too far with the cars, not even a bicycle,” he added.

In Haiti, many victims died when a river overflowed in Petit-Goave. Authorities are still conducting assessments, as several areas remain inaccessible. Around 15,000 people have taken refuge in more than 120 shelters, according to interim UN coordinator Gregoire Goodstein.

In Cuba, more than three million people were exposed to life-threatening conditions, with about 735,000 safely evacuated, said UN resident coordinator Francisco Pichon. While no fatalities have been reported in Cuba, nearly 240 communities remain cut off due to flooding and landslides.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category Five storm, with maximum winds of 185 miles per hour, before moving on to Cuba and other Caribbean countries. Governments and humanitarian organisations around the world have pledged support for the affected nations.

The World Food Programme said it is working with partners to coordinate logistics, cash and emergency supplies across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The US State Department announced that a disaster response team is being deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts and to provide food, water, medical supplies and temporary shelters. The UK government also pledged an additional £5 million to send humanitarian aid, including shelter kits and solar-powered lanterns, on top of the £2.5 million already committed.

Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport expects to reopen for limited commercial flights, though seven gates remain closed for repairs after sustaining damage. Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport is now fully operational, receiving several relief flights, while Ocho Rios’ Ian Fleming International Airport has also handled some aid deliveries.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said many people are still unable to contact family members due to road blockages and communication breakdowns. “There are people who still have not been able to make contact with their families, their loved ones, and their friends, and road access is still impossible,” he said.

A landslide has blocked main roads in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth parish, while residents struggle to clear water from homes and recover what they can. “I have never seen anything like this before in all my years living here,” said Jennifer Small, a resident of the area.

The extent of the damage remains unclear as widespread power outages persist. “It is too early for us to say definitively,” Minister Dixon stated.

As Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti recover from the storm, Bermuda is bracing for impact. The Bermuda Weather Service expects Melissa to weaken to a Category Two hurricane when it passes the British overseas territory. Government offices and schools have been closed, and residents have been urged to stay indoors until authorities declare it safe.