Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday (28 October 2025) with unprecedented ferocity, leaving large pockets of the island submerged, powerless and socially fractured. (AP News)
Among the worst-hit areas was the parish of St Elizabeth, where homes were flooded, roads washed out and entire communities were cut off from emergency services. (AP News)
In the tourism hub of Montego Bay, floodwaters split the city in two, with the mayor declaring one side effectively isolated by inundated roads. (Antigua News Room)
More than half a million (over 500,000) households are reported to be without electricity, as power lines and poles were toppled, and Jamaica’s national grid suffered major damage. (Reuters)
Officials warn that the damage to infrastructure will take days—if not weeks—to assess, with some relief and detection efforts delayed by blocked roads and communication outages. (The Washington Post)
The government has declared a national disaster area and mobilised emergency shelters and response teams, though many rural and remote communities remain cut off or under-informed due to network failures. (The Guardian)
Key points
Landfall of Hurricane Melissa near New Hope in Westmoreland parish with sustained winds of up to 185 mph (295 kph) — making it the strongest storm to hit Jamaica on record. (AP News)
Widespread flooding in the south-western region, including St Elizabeth, where communities were described as “underwater”. (Reuters)
Major power outage: more than 500,000 households without electricity, communications and transport disrupted. (The National)
Montego Bay split by floodwaters, isolating one side of the city. (Antigua News Room)
Infrastructure damage: hospitals, schools, and essential facilities compromised or damaged. (GMA Network)
