Hurricane Melissa Unleashes Devastation Across Caribbean
AMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images
A powerful storm, Hurricane Melissa, has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, with severe impacts reported in several regions. The hurricane made its initial impact in Jamaica before progressing to Cuba, causing significant fatalities and displacements.
In Haiti, the overflow of the La Digue river, triggered by Melissa’s torrential rains, resulted in the loss of 25 lives, according to Petit-Goâve Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème, as reported by The Associated Press.
Jamaica has been severely affected, with 25,000 individuals seeking refuge in shelters and one confirmed fatality. A staggering 77% of the island is currently without electricity.
As the hurricane advanced to Cuba, 735,000 residents have found shelter, facing the destruction of homes and rooftops. A hurricane warning is active for multiple Cuban provinces, as well as areas in the Bahamas and Bermuda.
Hurricane Melissa, initially a Category 5 hurricane with 185 mph winds, now registers as a Category 2 storm, maintaining winds of 100 mph. Despite its weakening, forecasters warn of continued threats.
Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical charity, has labeled Melissa “the most powerful hurricane ever recorded to hit Jamaica.” The storm’s path threatens a 4 to 7-foot surge in the southern Bahamas and minor coastal flooding in the Turks and Caicos, Haiti, and Cuba.
The National Hurricane Center anticipates “catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides” in Cuba, with similar threats to the southern Bahamas. Rainfall projections include 8 to 12 inches in eastern Cuba and central Bahamas, while other regions face varying levels of precipitation.
Jamaica is expected to handle rainfall totals up to 24 inches, with isolated areas experiencing even higher amounts. The island is making efforts to reopen airports on Thursday to facilitate relief operations.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
