Hurricane Melissa churns across Cuba as a Category 2 storm; Jamaica reports a baby’s death
Summary
Hurricane Melissa weakened to a Category 2 storm as it moved across eastern Cuba on 29 October 2025 after striking Jamaica earlier as a catastrophic hurricane. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported top sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and a north-northeast movement at 14 mph (22 kph). Melissa made landfall in Jamaica with sustained winds reported at 185 mph (295 kph), causing major damage and at least one confirmed child fatality when a fallen tree struck a baby.
Authorities in Cuba reported severe flooding, collapsed houses, blocked mountain roads and widespread damage in provinces including Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo. About 735,000 people were sheltering in eastern Cuba. The storm was forecast to continue weakening over Cuba but remain powerful as it moved toward the Bahamas and later near Bermuda, with heavy rain, storm surge and landslide risk.
Key Points
- Melissa struck Jamaica as an extremely powerful storm (reported sustained winds 185 mph/295 kph) before weakening to Category 2 over Cuba.
- At least one baby was killed in Jamaica after a tree fell; regional fatalities linked to Melissa totalled seven across the Caribbean.
- Roughly 735,000 people were in shelters in eastern Cuba; extensive flooding and landslides reported, particularly in Granma province.
- Significant rainfall (reports of more than 15 inches/40 cm in places) and a possible storm surge up to 12 feet (3.6 m) threaten life‑threatening flooding and landslides.
- Infrastructure impacts include collapsed houses, roofs torn off, hospital damage and major power outages — Jamaica had over half a million customers without power.
- The U.S. deployed disaster response and search-and-rescue teams; Jamaican airports were expected to reopen soon to speed relief distribution.
- Melissa posed an ongoing threat to the Bahamas, Haiti and later Bermuda as it tracked north‑northeast.
Context and relevance
Melissa is among the most intense Atlantic storms of the season and has acute humanitarian and logistical implications for Caribbean nations already coping with economic and infrastructure challenges. The scale of evacuations and sheltering in Cuba, combined with damaged hospitals and communications blackouts in Jamaica, underlines both immediate rescue needs and longer-term recovery efforts.
For policymakers, emergency planners and aid organisations, Melissa highlights persistent vulnerabilities: fragile power grids, limited transport access after landslides, and the need for rapid international coordination to deliver food, fuel and medical support.
Why should I read this?
Look — this isn’t just another storm report. Melissa slammed into Jamaica as a monster hurricane and is now battering Cuba while threatening the Bahamas and Bermuda. If you have loved ones, business interests or are involved in disaster response in the region, the details here matter: deaths, shelters, hospital damage, and the expected path all affect relief, travel and safety. We’ve skimmed the chaos for you so you can see what’s urgent.
