Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm, struck eastern Cuba early Wednesday with winds reaching 193 kph. The hurricane made landfall near Chivirico, in Santiago de Cuba province, after ravaging Jamaica and becoming one of the Atlantic’s strongest recorded storms.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel said authorities evacuated more than 700,000 people before the storm hit. “We know there will be a lot of damage,” he said in a televised address. “No one is left behind, and no resources are spared to protect lives.”
Forecasters warned that Melissa could bring storm surges of up to 3.6 meters and rainfall exceeding 51 centimeters in some areas. The storm was expected to move across Cuba during the morning before heading toward the Bahamas later Wednesday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned that ongoing rainfall could trigger deadly flooding and landslides. A hurricane watch remained active for Bermuda as Melissa continued its path northward.
Economic Strain Deepens as Storm Batters Island
Cuba’s fragile economy now faces additional strain as Hurricane Melissa compounds existing shortages of power, food, and essential supplies. Díaz-Canel urged citizens not to underestimate what he called “the strongest hurricane ever to hit national territory.”
Provinces from Guantánamo to Camagüey suspended schools and public activities in preparation. Emergency shelters filled quickly as volunteers and soldiers helped residents secure homes and livestock. Officials described the evacuation as one of the largest in decades.
“We have a lot of work ahead,” Díaz-Canel said. “Our priority is to save lives and restore vital services as fast as possible.”
State media reported extensive power outages and severe damage to crops in coastal regions, threatening food supplies already stretched thin by the country’s economic crisis.
Jamaica Begins Recovery Amid Widespread Destruction
As Cuba braced for the storm, Jamaica began assessing the destruction left in Melissa’s wake. Deputy Disaster Council Chairman Desmond McKenzie reported heavy flooding across Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, calling parts of the southern coast “underwater.”
The storm damaged four hospitals, knocking out power to one and forcing the evacuation of 75 patients. More than half a million residents lost electricity as winds uprooted trees and downed power lines across the island.
Officials said they hope to reopen Jamaica’s airports by Thursday to accelerate relief efforts. The government prioritised restoring electricity and distributing emergency aid to affected communities.
Hurricane Melissa has already caused at least seven deaths across the Caribbean — three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic — with another person still missing. As recovery operations continue, regional governments brace for further challenges from one of the most powerful storms in recent history.
