In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall on southwest Jamaica, residents found themselves navigating a landscape unrecognisable: streets turned into rivers, vehicles stranded in knee-deep water, and downed power lines posing deadly hazards. In the parish of St. Elizabeth, authorities said entire communities were “under-water,” with the valley roads impassable. (Reuters)
One resident in Kingston reported:
“I saw trees down, power lines in the water, and cars half-submerged on my way home.”
Across the island, the storm knocked out power to more than half a million customers, with some utilities reporting outages affecting up to 77 % of the network. (The Guardian)
Key Impacts and Hazards
Flooding & infrastructure damage — The heavy rainfall and storm surge caused major flooding. In Black River and surrounding low-lying zones, three families were reported trapped in flooded homes. (AP News)
Vehicles stranded — Cars left on display lots or parked on streets were quickly engulfed in floodwaters, turning into obstacles for rescue workers.
Power & communications collapse — With tree-fall and structural damage to pylons, many roads became death-traps due to live wires in waterlogged zones. Journalists on the ground reported electrocution risks in flooded areas. (ABC)
Healthcare facilities affected — Several hospitals reported damage and power loss, complicating emergency care for injured and ill patients. (AP News)
Prime Minister Andrew Holness issued a stark caution:
“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5 storm.” (The Star)
