At least 25 people were killed after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa triggered catastrophic flooding in the coastal town of Petit-Goave, Haiti, local officials confirmed on Wednesday. The La Digue River overflowed, sweeping through residential neighborhoods and leaving widespread devastation in its path.
According to the town’s mayor, ten bodies were recovered near the river, while dozens more remain trapped under debris as rescue operations continue amid difficult conditions. Emergency teams are working to locate survivors, though communication and road access remain severely disrupted.
The storm, which made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, was later downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane as it moved across the Caribbean toward Cuba. Authorities in Jamaica have declared a national disaster, citing extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and power lines.
Cuba has begun large-scale evacuations in coastal regions as Melissa approaches, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. Meteorologists expect the hurricane to weaken further as it moves across the Atlantic, though flash floods and landslides remain a major threat in affected regions.
Hurricane Melissa is the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean this season, underscoring the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.
