Nassau: Hurricane Melissa strengthened again on Thursday, moving past the Bahamas and leaving a trail of devastation across several Caribbean islands. The hurricane warning in the Bahamas was lifted early on Thursday as the powerful storm headed towards Bermuda in the North Atlantic as a Category 2 hurricane. The Bahamian government had ordered evacuations on six of the country's more than 700 islands. Around 1,500 people were flown out of threatened areas before air traffic was suspended, according to officials.
According to Ghana News Agency, clean-up efforts have begun across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and other island nations that were severely impacted by the storm. Meteorologists report that Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic. In Jamaica, where Melissa made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, at least nine people lost their lives, as reported by Jamaican media. Six fatalities were directly caused by the storm, while three additional casualties occurred during preparations for its impact.
Images and videos from the affected regions depict destroyed houses, flooded streets, and fallen trees. Infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, churches, and bridges sustained damage in numerous areas. On Wednesday, the international airport in Kingston, Jamaica's capital, opened for the first relief flights, according to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz. Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, the country's largest airport, also suffered damage but was scheduled to reopen on Thursday.
Initial estimates from the private US weather service AccuWeather indicate that the total damage and economic losses caused by the storm could range between $48 billion and $52 billion. In Haiti, at least 24 people have been confirmed dead due to the hurricane. In the western community of Petit GoSve, around 20 individuals perished when a river overflowed its banks following persistent rainfall. Emmanuel Pierre, head of the Haitian civil defence agency, reported that at least 18 more people are missing.
Eastern Cuba also experienced significant impact from Melissa on Wednesday, with many coffee and banana plantations destroyed. President Miguel Daz-Canel noted that flooding caused the most severe damage, although no fatalities were reported. 'We are alive,' said Daz-Canel. 'Our victory is life.' Additionally, one casualty was reported in the Dominican Republic.
Climate scientists indicate that the probability of powerful storms like Melissa occurring is increasing due to global warming. Researchers at Imperial College London have determined that climate change has made a hurricane of this magnitude approximately four times more likely, while also increasing wind speeds by about 7%. At its peak, Melissa's wind speeds reached nearly 300 kilometres per hour.