People abandon a car on an impassable street flooded by rains caused by Tropical Storm Melissa in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall in Cuba After Devastating Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba early Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, following its destructive path across Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane. The storm slammed ashore near the town of New Hope, leaving widespread damage in its wake and destroying homes and businesses.
Evan Thompson, Principal Director at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, warned ahead of the storm, stating, “It will cause catastrophic damage, life-threatening damage. There is very little that can stop a category five hurricane.”
Powerful winds and fallen trees have left a trail of destruction and life-threatening flooding across the island. Roads are reported to be unpassable due to storm surge levels reaching up to 13 feet. The parish of St. Elizabeth is reportedly underwater, and over half a million residents are currently without power.
Four main hospitals suffered damage during the storm, with one facility losing power entirely, forcing the evacuation of 75 patients. In response to the devastation, the Prime Minister of Jamaica declared the entire island a disaster area.
Personal Stories Amid the Storm
Shantelle Nova was preparing for her dream wedding in Jamaica when the storm flooded her venue and upended their plans. “Windows are broken, a lot of water is coming in, so we’re just basically pushing towels and stuff at the doors,” Nova shared. “And the level of noise is ridiculous. Trees have really bent over and flew away, and some of our roof is completely off.”
Impact in Cuba
In Cuba, severe flooding inundated streets in Santiago de Cuba as the storm brought heavy rains and strong winds before making landfall. Up to 20 inches of rain were forecast in some areas, along with significant storm surge along the coast. Roughly 500,000 people were evacuated from areas vulnerable to winds and flooding as Melissa moved across the Caribbean.
Relief Efforts Underway
CBN’s Operation Blessing is actively preparing to assist victims of the storm. The team is packing supplies and readying efforts to bring aid to affected communities. On CBN’s Faith Nation, Diego Traverso, Senior Director for Operation Blessing’s Global Disaster Response Team, explained the challenges they face in getting to the island.
“We don’t know how catastrophic this is going to be, if the water is going to recede, if the airports are going to be open and when they’re going to be open,” Traverso said. “So, at this point we are just getting ready as close as we can to the island and praying for favor so we can either ride on an airplane, private one or commercial.”
The Operation Blessing team has packed much-needed disaster relief supplies, including water, food, solar lamps, hygiene kits, chlorinators, and water purification units to provide clean drinking water. Traverso emphasized the urgency, stating, “Water is going to be critical; the different ways for them to get water is going to get polluted. Pray for the people of Jamaica. Pray for the team of Operation Blessing.”
Additionally, Operation Blessing is preparing cargo shipments that include pallets of food and essential hygiene items for families affected by the hurricane.
Looking Ahead
Hurricane Melissa is forecast to move into the Bahamas later Wednesday. Jamaican officials are hopeful to reopen the island’s airports by Thursday. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is prepared to send aid as needed.
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