Hurricane Melissa has caused at least 25 deaths in Haiti and widespread devastation across Jamaica and Cuba, with rescue and response teams along with critical lifesaving supplies being sent to affected areas by the United States. The full extent of the storm's impact became apparent on the morning of October 29th, 2025, as residents began assessing the devastation. The US is in close contact with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and The Bahamas, according to a statement on X by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, posted on October 29th, 2025, at approximately 4:45 PM UTC. Most communities in affected areas are currently without electricity, making communication difficult, as noted in a post by Floyd Green, Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, on October 29th, 2025. In Jamaica, the Sandals Resort near New Hope experienced damage, as shown in pictures shared on X by Brad Arnold on October 29th, 2025. Previously, on the morning of October 29th, 2025, the Black River Hospital and historic Magdala House in St. Elizabeth were reported destroyed. The US State Department had announced on October 29th, 2025, at approximately 12:45 PM UTC, the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams to Caribbean countries impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Hurricane Melissa brought 100mph winds to Cuba, impacting areas like Sagua de Tánamo and El Cobre. Despite widespread destruction, the Flat Bridge in Jamaica remained standing. Social media posts from residents on October 29th, 2025, depicted extensive destruction in Black River, St. Elizabeth, with one user describing the damage as "catastrophic."
