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Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba early Wednesday, leveling homes with 120 mph sustained winds and a speed of 10 mph. Forecasters are describing it as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane.

Twenty-five people were killed in Haiti when a nearby river flooded their homes and another three died in the storm, officials said.

The storm is projected to strike the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and eventually Bermuda with vicious conditions later Wednesday, FOX Weather reports.

Melissa made devastating landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, wiping out power to 500,000 people there as experts brand it the “storm of the century.”

Live updates have ended.

Jamaican death toll climbs to four as Melissa moves out to sea

By Alex Oliveira

At least four people have been killed in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa, according to reports.

The bodies were all found in St. Elizabeth Parish, a small community on the islands southwestern shore that bore the brunt of the storm's 185 mph winds as it came ashore, CNN reported.

Three others deaths have also been confirmed, though they happened before Melissa even arrived as the island prepared for the storm.

At least 25 people have also been confirmed dead from Melissa-sparked flooding in Haiti, and one has died in the Dominican Republic.

Jamaican government still has no idea how many people dead, scale of damage from historic storm

By Alex Oliveira

Jamaica's government still has no idea how many people have been killed by Hurricane Melissa Tuesday, or how much damage was wrought across the island, according to government officials.

The government “is not in a position to make an official statement on deaths,” Minister for Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie told reporters Wednesday, according to CNN.

"We have not had alerts of any deaths so far. So we cannot presume that there are deaths,” he added.

Camilla Powell 27, and daughter Destiny Ellington, 5, stand outside of their home after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Alligator Pond, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
Camilla Powell 27, and daughter Destiny Ellington, 5, stand outside of their home after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Alligator Pond, Jamaica. REUTERS
Residents stand on the wreckage of a house destroyed by Hurricane Melissa in Santa Cruz, Jamaica, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.
Residents stand on the wreckage of a house destroyed by Hurricane Melissa in Santa Cruz, Jamaica on Wednesday. AP

Melissa slammed into Jamaica's more rural and remote western region, and knocked out power and internet across much of the island.

That's left the country unable to fully asses the damage as people bein picking through the wreckage a day after the storm moved on.

Only three deaths have been confirmed from Melissa in Jamaica so far, but they happened during preparations for the storm.

Drone view of damaged structures and boats after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Alligator Pond, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
Drone view of damaged structures and boats after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Alligator Pond, Jamaica. REUTERS

Haiti so far has seen the most confirmed deaths, with 25 killed in flooding early Wednesday and another three killed from the storm.

All 25,000 tourists trapped in Jamaica accounted for and safe: officials

By Alex Oliveira

All 25,000 tourists who were trapped in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa have been accounted for, according to reports.

The tourists are all in good health, with only two suffering “minor lacerations" from debris, and another experiencing a stroke while on the island, Jamaican tourism minister Edmund Bartlett told the New York Times.

Drone view of damage to coastal homes after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Alligator Pond, Jamaica. REUTERS
Val Mitchell uses a machete to chop a downed tree on a dirt road, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, Manchester, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
Val Mitchell uses a machete to chop a downed tree on a dirt road, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Manchester, Jamaica. REUTERS

“The medical condition of everybody is in good order,” Bartlett said.

Jamaica's airports are expected to re-open Wednesday to begin flying in aid, and will open for customers on Thursday.

Terrifying before and after video shows remains of Jamaican resort decimated by Hurricane Melissa

By Alex Oliveira

Jaw-dropping before and after footage shows the destruction Hurricane Melissa wrought on a Jamaican resort — and it's just one of countless terrifying scenes emerging from the Caribbean island as it digs itself out after the storm.

Both clips were taken at the Catalonia Montego Bay hotel on Jamaica's northwest coast, where the Category 5 storm's eye passed nearly overhead as it raged across the the island Tuesday.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVhF1o_JDiI?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360]

Promotional videos shot before the storm showed the resort with lush lawns, white sand beaches alongside crystal blue waters and lawn chairs arranged tidily under gently swaying palms.

But footage filmed after Melissa moved out to sea shows a vastly different scene.

The palms still standing have been stripped of their foliage, while huge pieces of roofing, walls and all sorts of nameless debris littered the battered lawns.

Melissa seemed to have even made its mark indoors — with trash littering what appeared to be a dining room that had its ceiling ripped away by the 185 mph winds.

Flooding from Hurricane Melissa leaves 25 dead in Haiti: mayor

By Kaydi Pelletier

Massive flooding from Hurricane Melissa killed 25 people when it swept through Haiti on Tuesday, a mayor on the island said.

The more than two dozen victims died after La Digue river burst its banks and flooded nearby homes, Jean Bertrand Subrème, mayor of the southern Haitian coastal town of Petit-Goâve, told The Associated Press.

People bucket out floodwater from their makeshift homes and aisles during heavy rains brought by the outer bands of Hurricane Melissa, at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shelter housing some of the more than 1.3 million Haitians displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 29, 2025.
People bucket out floodwater during heavy rains brought by the outer bands of Hurricane Melissa, at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shelter in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Wednesday. REUTERS
People walk through a flooded aisle past makeshift homes during heavy rains brought by the outer bands of Hurricane Melissa, at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shelter, housing some of the more than 1.3 million Haitians displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti October 29, 2025.
People walk through a flooded aisle past makeshift homes during heavy rains in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. REUTERS

Dozens of homes collapsed and people were still trapped under rubble as of Wednesday morning, Subrème said, pleading with the government to help and saying he is "overwhelmed by the situation."

People in Cuba, Jamaica dig through rubble after Hurricane Melissa destroys homes

By Sarah Ng

Hurricane Melissa destroyed homes in Jamaica, where it made its first landfall as a Category 5, and Cuba, where it made a second landfall as a Category 3, leaving residents to sort through the ruins Wednesday.

Locals had to climb through piles of rubble, trying to salvage their belongings from what used to be their houses.

A family salvages belongings from the rubble of their home after it collapsed during Hurricane Melissa's passage through Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 29, 2025.
A family salvages belongings from the rubble of their home after it collapsed during Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images
A woman with the remains of her home following Hurricane Melissa.
A woman with the remains of her home following Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images
A resident sits on part of the roof of his house, damaged by Hurricane Melissa, in Santiago de Cuba
A resident sits on part of the roof of his house, damaged by Hurricane Melissa, in Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images
A resident sits on part of the roof of his house, damaged by Hurricane Melissa, in Santiago de Cuba
The powerful Hurricane Melissa made its second landfall in eastern Cuba on Wednesday, causing damage and flooding to homes and streets in Santiago de Cuba province, an AFP team on the ground reported. AFP via Getty Images
Men salvage belongings from the rubble of her their home after it collapsed during Hurricane Melissa's passage through Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 29, 2025.
Men gather belongings from the rubble of their home after it collapsed during Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba. AFP via Getty Images
Residents walk past debris and fallen trees after Hurricane Melissa struck Santiago de Cuba
Residents walk past debris and fallen trees after Hurricane Melissa struck Santiago de Cuba. AFP via Getty Images

In Jamaica, doors were ripped off the hinges, with a sea of debris left on floors.

Debris lies scattered at a hotel after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
Debris lies scattered at a hotel after Hurricane Melissa in Montego Bay, Jamaica. REUTERS
Debris lies scattered at a hotel after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
A broken door and debris can be seen following Hurricane Melissa. REUTERS

Families had to walk through the messy streets in the aftemath of the Category 5 storm.

People walk through Santa Cruz, Jamaica, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, after Hurricane Melissa passed.
People walk through Santa Cruz, Jamaica, on Wednesday after Hurricane Melissa passed. AP
Parts of the roof of the St. Elizabeth Technical High School are missing in Santa Cruz, Jamaica, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, after Hurricane Melissa passed.
Parts of the roof of the St. Elizabeth Technical High School are missing in Santa Cruz, Jamaica. AP

Devastation in Jamaica after 'storm of the century' Hurricane Melissa slams island: photos

By Sarah Ng

Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaica with severe damage.

The "storm of the century" flipped cars on the side of the road, ripped up trees and knocked out power on the island to 500,000 people.

"Life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding and landslides, and extremely dangerous hurricane winds are ongoing this morning," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, telling residents to "remain in a safe shelter."

A damaged car by a fallen tree is seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
A damaged car by a fallen tree is seen after Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images
Broken tree branches lie on the street, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Spur Tree, Manchester, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
The storm ripped up trees and knocked out power. REUTERS
People inspect the damage after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Spur Tree, Manchester, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
People inspect the damage after Hurricane Melissa. REUTERS

Stores and homes collapsed, with properties losing their roofs and caving in.

A store stands destroyed following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on October 28, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
A store stands destroyed following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica. AFP via Getty Images
A house with a damaged roof is seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on October 28, 2025.
A house with a damaged roof following Hurricane Melissa. AFP via Getty Images

The size of Hurricane Melissa

By Kathleen Joyce

The storm is about 770 miles wide — which is close to the size of Texas.

The incredibly powerful storm has sustained winds of 115 mph and is moving about 12 mph.

satellite of hurricane melissa
Satellite image of Hurricane Melissa.
Hurricane Melissa
The storm is about the size of Texas. CIRA
This satellite image reveals the eye of Hurricane Melissa just hours before it struck Jamaica's southern coast.
The eye of Hurricane Melissa before it struck Jamaica's southern coast. INSTARimages/European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
The incredibly powerful Hurricane Melissa has sustained winds of 115 mph and is moving about 12 mph. SWNS
View of part of Santiago de Cuba city after the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 29, 2025.
View of part of Santiago de Cuba city after the passage of Hurricane Melissa on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images
Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
The storm will bring "damaging winds, flooding rains, and dangerous storm surge" as it moves over eastern Cuba. SWNS

The NHS said the storm will bring "damaging winds, flooding rains, and dangerous storm surge" as it moves over eastern Cuba.

The storm is one of the strongest to ever form in the Atlantic after its sustained winds reached 185 mph. Hurricane Allen in 1980 had 190 mph winds.

Rain clouds in Barahona, Dominican Republic on October 28, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

Photos show Hurricane Melissa's destruction

By Kathleen Joyce

Photos from Jamaica show the destruction the powerful storm left in its path.

A gas station in Montego Bay, Jamaica is damaged by Hurricane Melissa. Xinhua/Shutterstock
A tree is pulled from its roots in Catherine, Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa made landfall. AFP via Getty Images
Torrential rain batters downtown Kingston on October 28, 2025. SEE JAMAICA/AFP via Getty Images
A street is flooded in Las Cucarachas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. AFP via Getty Images
Large waves caused by Hurricane Melissa are captured in St. Thomas, Jamaica. Xinhua/Shutterstock
People sleep at a shelter in Les Cayes, Haiti. REUTERS

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall on southern coast of Cuba

By Nicholas McEntyre

Hurricane Melissa made landfall on the southern coast of eastern Cuba on Wednesday morning.

The Category 3 storm touched down near the city of Chivirico in the province of Santiago de Cuba at 3:10 a.m.

Maximum sustained winds near 120 mph were reported by the National Weather Service.

The "Extremely Dangerous" storm is currently moving at 10 mph and is expected to blow across the island nation over the next five hours before making its way northeast towards the Bahamas.

Storm surge on the southern coast is projected to reach between 8 feet and 12 feet above normal tide heights with 10 to 20 inches of rain, CNN reported.

Hurricane Melissa to make landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm

By Nicholas McEntyre

Hurricane Melissa was downgraded to an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 storm as landfall with Cuba is imminent, the National Weather Service announced.

The powerful cyclone was tracking less than 80 miles south of Cuba at 2 a.m. and is projected to strike the southeastern part of the island nation within hours.

Maximum sustained wind speeds were measured at 125 mph with higher gusts.

Melissa will blow over the eastern end of Cuba before weakening to a Cat. 2 storm headed for the Bahamas later in the morning.

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