(Disclaimer: This article has been syndicated from ANI and has been mildly edited for clarity and context.)
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Hurricane Melissa (Pic: wikipedia)
Heartbreak grips the Caribbean as Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms in recent history, tears through Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, leaving at least 50 people dead and countless others homeless. The Category 5 monster storm ripped roofs off homes, snapped power lines, and swallowed towns whole. As Melissa finally drifts away, survivors are left staring at ruins where vibrant communities once stood, and officials warn, the death toll may yet rise.
More than 60 per cent of the island remains without power, and nearly half of the water systems are offline.
In the historic town of Black River, up to 90 per cent of structures lost their roofs, with snapped power lines and toppled concrete structures adding to the devastation, Al Jazeera reported.
Jamaica’s Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon said that while 19 deaths have been confirmed, credible reports suggest up to five additional fatalities may be identified.
In Haiti, officials reported at least 31 deaths and 21 people missing, primarily in the southern region.
More than 15,800 people remain in shelters as recovery efforts continue, according to Al Jazeera.
Cuba reported no deaths as of Friday but faced severe flooding after more than 735,000 people were evacuated from the eastern part of the island.
The Cauto River overflowed, forcing emergency workers to conduct rescues using boats and military vehicles in waist-deep floodwaters.
Some areas received up to 380mm (15 inches) of rainfall, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Experts have said that Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the region, was made four times more likely by human-induced climate change, according to a study by Imperial College London, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Jamaica is also turning to financial mechanisms to support recovery.
The country’s catastrophe bond, issued in 2024 in collaboration with the World Bank, provides USD 150 million in protection for four hurricane seasons and has been triggered by Hurricane Melissa.
Authorities urged donors to contribute only through official government channels to avoid scams. (Disclaimer: This article has been syndicated from ANI and has been mildly edited for clarity and context.) Also Read: Top 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World: Delhi Drops Out of the List – Check Its….
Aishwarya is a journalism graduate with over three years of experience thriving in the buzzing corporate media world. She’s got a knack for decoding business news, tracking the twists and turns of the stock market, covering the masala of the entertainment world, and sometimes her stories come with just the right sprinkle of political commentary. She has worked with several organizations, interned at ZEE and gained professional skills at TV9 and News24, And now is learning and writing at NewsX, she’s no stranger to the newsroom hustle. Her storytelling style is fast-paced, creative, and perfectly tailored to connect with both the platform and its audience. Moto: Approaching every story from the reader’s point of view, backing up her insights with solid facts.
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