Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm of the year, has ravaged Jamaica with catastrophic winds and torrential rains, leaving at least seven people dead and displacing thousands as the island reels from widespread destruction.

The Category 5 storm made landfall late Monday night, unleashing sustained winds of up to 295 kilometers per hour (183 mph) and triggering massive flooding and landslides that have crippled infrastructure across the country. Entire communities remain cut off as emergency crews struggle to reach affected areas.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the storm’s impact as “unprecedented,” warning that Jamaica’s infrastructure was not designed to endure such force.

“Our country has no infrastructure capable of withstanding a Category 5 hurricane. The priority now is how quickly we can recover,” Holness said in a televised address Tuesday morning.

Deputy Chair of the Disaster Risk Management Council, Desmond McKenzie, confirmed that the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth has been “completely submerged,” with the town of Black River among the hardest hit.

“Rescue operations are ongoing, but severe conditions have delayed access to several areas. In Black River, at least three families remain trapped in their homes,” McKenzie noted.

Across the island, more than 540,000 households—representing nearly 77 percent of Jamaica’s population—are without power. Downed trees, collapsed bridges, and landslides have rendered major highways impassable, hindering the delivery of relief supplies.

Four hospitals sustained structural damage, including one facility that suffered a total power outage, prompting the emergency evacuation of 75 patients.

The regional death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to seven, with three fatalities in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Authorities fear the number could rise as floodwaters recede and search operations continue.

More than 15,000 Jamaicans are currently sheltering in emergency facilities established across the island, while thousands more are believed to have fled to higher ground.

International aid efforts are underway. The United Nations and several humanitarian organizations have announced plans to deliver food, water, and medical supplies. Jamaican officials said airports are expected to reopen by Thursday to facilitate the arrival of international assistance and support teams.

Meteorologists have warned that Melissa, though weakening as it moves northwest toward Cuba, still poses significant risks of flash floods and storm surges throughout the northern Caribbean.

“This is a disaster of historic proportions,” said a spokesperson for the Jamaica Meteorological Service. “It will take weeks, if not months, to assess the full scale of the damage.”

As recovery operations begin, officials have urged residents to remain in shelters until conditions stabilize, emphasizing that safety and rescue remain the government’s top priority.

(ILKHA)