--- title: Hurricane Melissa Leaves Devastation in Haiti and Jamaica description: Melissa killed at least 25 people in Haiti when a river burst its banks and left tens of thousands without electricity in Jamaica. canonical: https://time.com/7329307/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti-damage-photos/ author: Solcyré Burga article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-10-29T17:45:42.000Z article:modified_time: 2025-10-30T16:01:52.000Z article:section: Climate og:title: Hurricane Melissa Kills 25 in Haiti, Leaves Devastation in Jamaica og:description: Melissa killed dozens in Haiti when a river burst its banks and left tens of thousands without electricity in Jamaica. og:url: https://time.com/7329307/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti-damage-photos/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt153d2e63b141b49e/6998cb4593610c4c7bc3021b/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-cuba-21.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: JAMAICA-WEATHER-STORM-MELISSA og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Hurricane Melissa Kills 25 in Haiti, Leaves Devastation in Jamaica twitter:description: Melissa killed dozens in Haiti when a river burst its banks and left tens of thousands without electricity in Jamaica. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt153d2e63b141b49e/6998cb4593610c4c7bc3021b/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-cuba-21.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Photos Show Devastation Caused by Hurricane Melissa Across the Caribbean ## Video: Hurricane Melissa Brings Flooding and Catastrophic Winds to Jamaica [Watch (HLS stream): Hurricane Melissa Brings Flooding and Catastrophic Winds to Jamaica](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/rRl3hFDJ.m3u8) (2:16)  _Published 2025-10-29. Streets were flooded after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean island since records were first kept 174 years ago._  Destroyed buildings following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on Oct. 29. Destroyed buildings following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on Oct. 29.Ricardo Makyn—AFP/Getty Images --- Story by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/) Updated: Oct 30, 2025 4:01 PM UTCPublished: Oct 29, 2025 5:45 PM UTC Destroyed buildings following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on Oct. 29. Ricardo Makyn—AFP/Getty Images Flooding from Hurricane Melissa killed at least 25 people in Haiti after the storm caused [extensive damage](https://time.com/7328895/hurricane-melissa-category-5-atlantic-explained/) in Jamaica, submerging entire communities underwater and destroying homes across the Caribbean island. Melissa brought powerful waves and 185mph winds as it made landfall in Jamaica as a [Category 5 storm](https://time.com/7328895/hurricane-melissa-category-5-atlantic-explained/) on Tuesday, before heading to Haiti and on to Cuba. ​​“Jamaica has gone through what I can describe as one of our worst periods. Our infrastructure has been severely compromised,” [said](https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/10/28/eyeonmelissa-government-standby-provide-aid/) Desmond McKenzie, minister of local government, during a press briefing on Tuesday. “The entire Jamaica has felt the brunt of Melissa,” he added. McKenzie described the damage in St. Elizabeth Parish, which rests near where the hurricane made landfall, as “extensive.” **Read more:** [_How to Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Melissa_](https://time.com/7329186/hurricane-melissa-caribbean-impact-victims-how-to-help-relief-organizations/) Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a disaster area late Tuesday. "The reports that we have had so far would include damage to hospitals, significant damage to residential property, housing and commercial property as well, and damage to our road infrastructure," Holness said on CNN after the storm had passed. The full scope of the damage on the island is not yet known, but there have been eight reported deaths in Jamaica, including that of a 35-year-old and a 64-year-old man, according to The Associated Press. More than 25,000 Jamaicans were housed in shelters across the country on Wednesday, as residents cope with the strongest storm in the country’s recorded history. Seventy-five patients were transported to safety from the Black River Hospital, which [experienced](https://jis.gov.jm/service-disrupted-at-black-river-hospital-emergency-protocols-activated/) power outages. Just over 77% of the country was without power as of late Tuesday, according to the [Jamaica _Observer,_](https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/10/28/eyeonmelissa-77-jps-customers-without-electricity/) a local media outlet, as the Jamaica Public Service Company, the country’s sole electricity distributor, experienced difficulties due to the storm. The government of Jamaica has launched its own [recovery website](https://supportjamaica.gov.jm/) to assist with recovery efforts. **Read more:** [_Why Are We Seeing More Category 5 Hurricanes?_](https://time.com/7328895/hurricane-melissa-category-5-atlantic-explained/) Melissa also wreaked [havoc](https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/10/29/melissa-leaves-trail-destruction-st-james/) in Montego Bay, St. James, a major tourist destination, [devastating](https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/10/29/melissa-leaves-trail-destruction-st-james/) a popular restaurant known as Pier One. At least 20 people were killed in the southern Haitian town of ​​Petit-Goâve when the banks of the La Digue River burst due to flash flooding, causing dozens of homes to collapse. Some victims were buried under rubble as of Wednesday morning. Eighteen other people in the country remain missing, Haitian officials told [the AP](https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-melissa-cuba-jamaica-flooding-winds-275a4d2d41a0ff3f382053865eefe295). Jean Bertrand Subrème, the town’s mayor, told the outlet he was “overwhelmed by the situation” as he called for the government to help. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was in contact with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. "We have rescue and response teams heading to affected areas along with critical lifesaving supplies," Rubio said in an X post. Hurricane Melissa downgraded to a Category 3 storm as it made landfall in Cuba, and winds dropped from a peak of 185 mph to 105 mph as it moved east across the island, damaging and destroying buildings and blocking roads. About 735,000 people were staying in shelters in Cuba as of Wednesday evening, according to the AP. Melissa was by that time categorized as a Category 1 hurricane. Still, meteorologists said it would likely bring dangerous conditions to the Bahamas Wednesday night. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) [warned](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics%5Fat3+shtml/291149.shtml?key%5Fmessages#contents) people in the storm's path to "remain sheltered until local officials deem it safe to venture out," warning that leaving shelter may pose risks even after the hurricane passes because of fallen power lines and flooded areas.  A U.S. Air Force Reserve crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the "Hurricane Hunters," flies through Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 27, over the Caribbean Sea.Lt. Col. Mark Withee—U.S. Air Force /Getty Images  A woman reacts as residents are evacuated from Playa Siboney to safe locations ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in Santiago de Cuba, on Oct. 28.Yamil Lage—AFP/Getty Images  Residents stand in a flooded street, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, in Santiago, Cuba, Oct. 29.Norlys Perez—Reuters  Waves splash in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches on Oct. 28, 2025.Matias Delacroix—AP  A man sits beside his destroyed home in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago, Cuba, on Oct. 29.Alexandre Meneghin—Reuters  People help each other to avoid falling as they walk along a muddy roadside, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Santa Cruz, Jamaica, on Oct. 29.Octavio Jones—Reuters  Flooded homes are seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Howard Acres neighborhood in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on Oct. 29.Ricardo Makyn—AFP/Getty Images  A man places plastic tarps over tents at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence during a break in the rain brought by Hurricane Melissa in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 29.Odelyn Joseph—AP  Dina Pico, 58, shovels sand off his house in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, in Santiago, Cuba, Oct. 29.Norlys Perez—Reuters  A heavily damaged St. John's Anglican Church is seen on Oct. 29, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.Ricardo Makyn—AFP/Getty Images  A resident of El Cobre, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, walks past downed trees, power lines and destroyed houses following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, on Oct. 29.Yamil Lage—AFP/Getty Images  Fallen trees block sections of the Spur Tree main road following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on Oct. 28.Ricardo Makyn—AFP/Getty Images  Men ride after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in El Cobre, Cuba, on Oct. 29.Ramón Espinosa—AP  Lorraine Smith stands on her porch in Great Bay with her dogs amid flooding following Hurricane Melissa in the Treasure Beach area of Jamaica, on Oct. 29.Abbie Townsend—The New York Times/Redux  A resident slides over part of the roof of his house, damaged by Hurricane Melissa, in Santiago de Cuba on Oct. 29.Yamil Lage—AFP/Getty Images  Boys walk in El Cobre, Cuba, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 29.Ramon Espinosa—AP  Drone view of flooding after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, on Oct. 29.Maria Alejandra Cardona—Reuters  A man walks in the rain before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Canizo, a village in Santiago de Cuba, on Oct. 28.Ramón Espinosa—AP  People salvage belongings from the rubble of their home after it collapsed during Hurricane Melissa's passage through Santiago de Cuba, on Oct. 29.Yamil Lage—AFP/Getty Images _Chantelle Lee contributed._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7329307/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti-damage-photos/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7329307/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti-damage-photos/"},"headline":"Photos Show Devastation Caused by Hurricane Melissa Across the Caribbean","datePublished":"2025-10-29T17:45:42.000Z","dateModified":"2025-10-30T16:01:52.000Z","description":"Melissa killed at least 25 people in Haiti when a river burst its banks and left tens of thousands without electricity in Jamaica.","url":"https://time.com/7329307/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti-damage-photos/","keywords":["extreme weather","climate change","photography","LightBox","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Solcyré Burga","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/"}],"articleSection":"Climate","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/climate/","name":"Climate"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/extreme-weather/","name":"extreme weather"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7329307/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti-damage-photos/","name":"Photos Show Devastation Caused by Hurricane Melissa Across the Caribbean"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Watch: Aerial View of Devastation Caused by Hurricane in Jamaica","description":"Flooding from Hurricane Melissa killed 25 people in Haiti after the storm caused extensive damage in Jamaica, submerging entire communities underwater and destroying homes across the Caribbean island. 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