At least 20 people, including 10 children, have been confirmed dead in Haiti after devastating floods caused by Hurricane Melissa, according to local authorities. Most of the victims were swept away when a river overflowed in the town of Petit-Goave in southern Haiti, where houses collapsed and entire neighborhoods were submerged. The mayor of the town, Jean Bertrand Subrème, said that the situation is tragic and that many people are still missing as rescue operations continue.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) had warned earlier that Hurricane Melissa would bring catastrophic flash flooding and landslides to parts of the Caribbean. Haiti, which is already suffering from extreme poverty and lacks resilient infrastructure, has been hit hard by the disaster. The NHC stated that the country is likely to face extensive damage and isolation of communities as roads, bridges and communication networks have been destroyed.
In Petit-Goave, many residents were trapped in collapsed homes and were desperately waiting for help. Local witnesses described terrifying scenes as the river violently burst its banks. According to humanitarian worker Pascal Bimenyimana from the NGO World Relief, entire homes were washed away and roofs were torn off by the floodwaters. He added that around 3,000 people are currently in emergency shelters after losing their homes.
Hurricane Melissa has already caused widespread destruction across the Caribbean. Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti have been the hardest hit so far. The storm brought winds reaching 185 miles per hour to Jamaica, leaving most of the island without electricity. Although no deaths have yet been confirmed in Jamaica, local officials fear the worst as communication remains limited in some areas. The mayor of Montego Bay, Richard Vernon, stated in an interview with the BBC that his first task at sunrise would be to check whether everyone in the city had survived the storm.
Cuba also suffered heavy damage as Hurricane Melissa moved northward after hitting Jamaica. The powerful winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges destroyed buildings, flooded roads and disrupted transportation and communication lines. Rescue teams continue to help stranded residents despite dangerous weather conditions.
Hurricane Melissa is now moving northeast toward the Bahamas and Bermuda, where authorities have issued hurricane warnings and emergency preparations are underway. Meteorologists say that although the storm is slowly weakening, it remains extremely dangerous and continues to threaten lives and property.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed deep concern about the situation in Haiti, where access to food, clean water and medical supplies is becoming increasingly difficult. International aid may be required urgently as thousands of people have been left without shelter. Officials warn that the death toll could rise further as search operations progress in remote and isolated regions of the country.
