Hurricane Melissa's confirmed death toll has climbed to 49 after the storm wreaked destruction across much of the northern Caribbean.
Haiti reported at least 30 deaths with 20 people missing, after the slow-moving hurricane brought days of torrential rain to the island. At least 23 people, including 10 children, died in the southern town of Petit-Goave when a river burst its banks.
Jamaica confirmed 19 people had died, but said authorities were continuing search and rescue efforts on Thursday. The storm left hundreds of thousands of people without power and tore homes apart.
Vital aid was beginning to flow into the island, but disruption at regional airports meant supplies were being brought in by road, which has been rendered impassable in some places.
The storm may have cost around $50bn in damages so far, and recovery efforts could take a decade, forecaster AccuWeather said.
Melissa was moving slowly to the northeast on Friday, expected to continue through Saturday before a gradual slowdown later this weekend, the National Hurricane Center reports.
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Key Points
- Death toll rises to 49
- Hurricane Melissa now a Category 2 storm
- ‘A dire situation unfolding in slow motion’: Why Hurricane Melissa has been so devastating
- Drone footage shows scale of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction on Jamaican fishing village
- More than 700,000 children across Caribbean affected by Hurricane Melissa: UNICEF
Hurricane Melissa tracker: Where will storm head next?
12:48
,
James Reynolds
Despite weakening, Hurricane Melissa continues to move.
Melissa was last recorded as a Category 2 storm 264 km (164 miles) west of the North Atlantic British island territory of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (161 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center:
Airport and road disruption hits aid in Jamaica
12:03
,
James Reynolds
Disruption to travel in Jamaica continues to hinder efforts to bring vitally needed aid into the country.
Aid supplies have been able to reach the main airport in Kingston since its return to operation.
But regional airports in other parts of the country are still not fully open, meaning aid has to be delivered by road, the BBC reports.
The devastation brought by Hurricane Melissa rendered roads unusable, leaving communities particularly in the west without access to relief.
In pictures: Aid packages for Jamaica assembled in Florida
11:34
,
James Reynolds
Jamaican police issue scam warning
11:20
,
James Reynolds
Jamaican police echoed a warning to donors about potential scams in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
Jamaica Constabulary Force posted on social media advising people to verify where they are sending donations for aid, as authorities claimed to have identified 28 bogus websites.
They said people could donate at https://supportjamaica.gov.jm/
Jamaican fishing village reduced to rubble after Hurricane Melissa
10:40
,
James Reynolds
Drone footage captured how a Jamaican fishing village was reduced to rubble in damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Aerial video of Alligator Pond from Wednesday shows how boats, homes, and other buildings close to the coast were impacted after the category 5 storm made landfall with sustained winds of 185mph:
Warning issued in Jamaica over fake donation websites
09:42
,
James Reynolds
Jamaican authorities have warned that scammers are “attempting to exploit generosity” through bogus donation websites in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
Dr Hon. Andrew Wheatley, minister without portfolio, told reporters on Thursday that “unscrupulous players” worldwide were “trying to take advantage” of the crisis.
He said Jamaica’s Cyber Incident Response Team had issued a warning to local and foreign donors over fraudulent websites, advising people to donate through the official channel.
As many as 28 ‘suspicious domains’ have so far been identified “that are attempting to divert contributions from legitimate sources”.
“These malicious actors are creating fake websites with names deliberately similar to Jamaica’s official donation portals,” he said. CIRT expects more to become active in the coming days, he said.
How to help those impacted by Hurricane Melissa
09:29
,
James Reynolds
As is typical in disasters, nonprofit groups said that cash is the best way to help, since unsolicited goods donations can overwhelm already strained systems.
Experts recommend using sites like Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance to check out unfamiliar charities before donating.
Here is some of the work being done and ways to support people impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and beyond:
Devastating power losses across Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa captured in satellite imagery
09:15
,
James Reynolds
Satellite imagery showed widespread power outages across Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa swept through the Caribbean.
Energy Minister Daryl Vaz said that more than 70 per cent of the island’s electrical customers remained without power as of Thursday morning, with downed lines blocking roads.
Islands across the Caribbean left reeling from aftermath of Hurricane Melissa
09:00
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Hurricane Melissa tracker: Where will storm head next after devastating Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica?
08:30
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Hurricane Melissa is continuing its path of destruction through the Caribbean after hitting the Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica.
The “storm of the century” is one of the most powerful in Atlantic history, and the most forceful hurricane to ever hit Jamaica.
At least 34 people have been killed so far, including eight in Jamaica, and one person in the Dominican Republic. Flooding caused by the storm’s effects in Haiti, killed at least 25 people including 10 children, authorities said.
Melissa began as a tropical wave near West Africa, before gaining traction and blowing westward to the Caribbean.
Read more here:
Hurricane to bring rain and winds to UK
08:28
,
James Reynolds
Hurricane Melissa is slowing down as it moves north east from the Caribbean.
It is expected to continue weakening as it enters cooler waters past Bermuda.
Melissa will move east across the Atlantic as a pocket of low pressure air, bringing some winds and heavy rain to the UK over the weekend and into early next week.
UK to provide £7.5mn in emergency aid to region
08:20
,
James Reynolds
The UK will provide an additional £5 million in emergency humanitarian funding to support the Caribbean region's recovery from Hurricane Melissa, the Government announced.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the additional funding follows the £2.5 million support package announced earlier this week.
The money will be put towards sending humanitarian supplies to help those whose homes have been damaged and those without power, including more than 3,000 shelter kits and 1,500 solar-powered lanterns.
Some of the funding will also be used to match public donations up to £1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' appeal in support of Jamaica.
In pictures: Devastation across the Caribbean
08:03
,
James Reynolds
Jamaica reels from Hurricane Melissa as Kingston’s main airport reopens to allow aid
08:00
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Kingston escaped the full force of Hurricane Melissa, with the city’s main airport reopening to receive planes loaded with emergency supplies.
But in the island’s southwest, devastation stretched for miles: entire towns lay submerged, power was out, and cell towers had toppled.
“The devastation is enormous,” said the transport minister, Daryl Vaz.
Melissa roared ashore on Tuesday, slamming into Jamaica with sustained winds near 185 mph, the most powerful hurricane to ever strike the country since record-keeping began in 1851.
While the British government has arranged special flights to bring home stranded nationals, much of Jamaica remains in crisis mode.
Officials estimate the storm’s toll could reach billions of dollars.
Recap: Melissa death toll rises as hurricane barrels north
07:45
,
James Reynolds
Hurricane Melissa’s death toll rose to 49 on Thursday as the storm continued its path north through Bermuda.
Thirty people were killed by Haiti, which did not sustain a direct hit but saw torrential rains lead to life-threatening flooding.
Jamaica, still reeling from the impact, confirmed 19 deaths as governments and humanitarian organisations rallied recovery funds for the region.
Bermuda was bracing for the hurricane overnight, on course to pass over until early on Friday. The local weather service expected a category two hurricane.
The hurricane has lost intensity, but huge damage remains, with rescue teams still working to locate missing people and communities cut off by flooding and landslides.
Jamaican school worker struggles as help fails to reach Lacovia
07:30
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Sheree McLeod oversees a makeshift shelter on a school campus in Lacovia in Saint Elizabeth Parish, in the southwestern part of Jamaica – a temporary refuge for 16 people ranging in age from 14 to 86.
“I’ve never seen this in my entire life,” she tells Sky News.
“It’s heartbreaking, I never thought in a million years that I would be in the situation trying to get help and with literally no communication.
“We can’t reach any officials, there are no emergency teams. I’m hoping and praying that help can reach us soon.
“The task of a shelter manager is voluntary and the most I can do is just ask for help in whatever way possible.”
UK doubles aid to £5m to support Caribbean recovery after Hurricane Melissa
07:16
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Britain said on Friday it would provide an additional £5m ($6.71m) in emergency humanitarian funding to support the Caribbean region’s recovery from hurricane Melissa.
Earlier this week, it announced it was sending aid worth £2.5m.
Caribbean diaspora rallies to aid Hurricane Melissa victims
07:00
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Caribbean diaspora communities from Miami to New York have mobilised massive relief efforts after Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
Though South Florida was spared, volunteers are collecting and shipping emergency supplies through groups like Food For The Poor and South Florida Caribbean Strong.
Haitian and Jamaican Americans are leading fundraising drives, saying “donation fatigue” doesn’t apply when it comes to helping their homelands.
Across Florida and New York, drop-off sites have sprung up at fire stations, parks, and homes as people rally to send aid. As one volunteer put it, “It’s home — you have to help".
Hurricane Melissa left behind a trail of destruction
06:30
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Slow recovery in Cuba
06:00
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
In Cuba, heavy equipment began to clear blocked roads and highways and the military helped rescue people trapped in isolated communities and at risk from landslides.
No deaths were reported after the Civil Defence evacuated more than 735,000 people across eastern Cuba ahead of the storm. Residents are slowly starting to return home.
The town of El Cobre in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba was one of the hardest hit. Home to some 7,000 people, it is also the site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba who is deeply venerated by Catholics and practitioners of Santeria, an Afro-Cuban religion.
"We went through this very badly. So much wind, so much wind. Zinc roofs were torn off. Some houses completely collapsed. It was a disaster," said Odalys Ojeda, a 61-year-old retiree, as she looked up at the sky from her living room where the roof and other parts of the house were torn away.
Death toll rises to 49
05:15
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Hurricane Melissa's confirmed death toll climbed to 49, according to official reports, after wreaking destruction across much of the northern Caribbean and picking up speed as it headed past Bermuda in the North Atlantic.
Authorities in Haiti, which was not directly hit but nevertheless suffered days of torrential rains from the slow-moving storm, reported at least 30 deaths and 20 more missing.
At least 23 people, including 10 children, died in Haiti's southern town of Petit-Goave when a river burst its banks. Roads, houses and farmlands were also damaged by the rains.
Jamaica's information minister confirmed at least 19 deaths, but said authorities were continuing search and rescue efforts.
The storm left hundreds of thousands without power, ripped roofs of buildings and scattered fields with rubble.
Before and after view of the fishing village White House, Jamaica
05:00
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Emergency relief flights land in Jamaica
04:14
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Emergency relief flights are landing at Jamaica's main international airport as crews distributed water, medicine and other basic supplies.
Helicopters dropped food as they thrummed above communities where the storm flattened homes, wiped out roads and destroyed bridges, cutting them off from assistance.
Government workers and residents began clearing roads in a push to reach dozens of isolated communities in the island's southeast that sustained a direct hit from one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record.
"The entire Jamaica is really broken because of what has happened," Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon said.
‘A dire situation unfolding in slow motion’: Why Hurricane Melissa has been so devastating
03:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Melissa has cut a path of destruction through the Caribbean this week, hitting Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas with winds of up to 185 mph.
Why has this storm been so devastating?
Keep reading:
Tropical storm conditions reported in Bermuda
02:38
,
Katie Hawkinson
Tropical storm conditions are occurring now in Bermuda, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
The island is also under a Hurricane Warning.
“On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to pass to the northwest of Bermuda tonight and pass south of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland as a post-tropical cyclone on Friday night,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane Melissa now a Category 2 storm
02:16
,
Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Melissa is now a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds as it passes to the northwest of Bermuda.
The storm is expected to weaken later tonight and on Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. It’s forecasted to then become a post-tropical low by Friday night.
Death toll rises as Hurricane Melissa thrashes Bermuda
02:02
,
Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Melissa’s death toll is rising as authorities assess the damage from the storm.
At least 30 people were killed in Haiti, and at least 19 deaths have been reported in Jamaica, the Associated Press reports.
Pictures show devastation in Cuba and Haiti
01:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Drone footage shows scale of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction on Jamaican fishing village
00:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
New drone footage has revealed the scale of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction in a Jamaican fishing village.
National Hurricane Center shares latest update on Hurricane Melissa
Thursday 30 October 2025 23:57
,
Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Melissa is moving rapidly northeast with 105 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. update on Thursday.
A Hurricane Warning is currently in effect for Bermuda.
“On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to pass to the northwest of Bermuda tonight and pass south of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland Friday night,” the agency said.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to weaken later Thursday night and Friday. It’s then expected to become a post-tropical low by Friday night.
Jamaican rapper raises money for Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts
Thursday 30 October 2025 23:42
,
Katie Hawkinson
Rapper Sean Paul, best known for his hits “Get Busy” and “Temperature,” shared a post on Instagram asking his followers to donate to a Hurricane Melissa relief fund.
“Right now, my island of Jamaica is going through a really tough time,” Paul wrote. “Hurricane Melissa has caused serious damage, and many of our brothers and sisters are struggling — families displaced, homes destroyed, and communities in need of help.”
Paul said he will match every donation, up to $50,000.
“Through the Sean Paul Foundation, we’ve partnered with Food For The Poor Jamaica to bring relief directly to those affected,” he continued. “I’m asking all my fans, friends, and supporters worldwide, if you can, please give what you can. Every donation counts, no matter how small. Together, we can make a big difference.”
Canada offers $7 million in humanitarian aid for Caribbean states impacted by Hurricane Melissa
Thursday 30 October 2025 23:00
,
Isabel Keane
The Canadian Parliament member overseeing foreign aid announced the country would provide $7 million in humanitarian aid to Caribbean nations impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, said $5 million would go to emergency response, while $2 million would go to the United Nations World Food Program, CBC reported.
Canada is also prepared to deploy relief supplies from its emergency stockpile through the Red Cross, if requested by countries, Sarai added.
Tourists stuck in Jamaica all accounted for
Thursday 30 October 2025 22:30
,
Isabel Keane
All 25,000 international tourists visiting Jamaica when Hurricane Melissa made landfall Tuesday, devastating the island, have been accounted for.
These visitors should be able to leave the island nation within a matter of days, according to Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s tourism minister.
The announcement comes as the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston reopened for commercial flights Thursday morning.
U.S. officials warn Americans against falling for scams after hurricane
Thursday 30 October 2025 22:00
,
Isabel Keane
The U.S. Better Business Bureau has issued warnings about scams targeting residents and donors in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
“Scanners often exploit the chaos and emotions surrounding natural disasters to steal money or personal information,” the agency said.
The agency is warning people to be careful of fake charities, AI-generated scams and crowdfunding scams.
More than 700,000 children across Caribbean affected by Hurricane Melissa: UNICEF
Thursday 30 October 2025 21:30
,
Isabel Keane
Over 700,000 children across the Caribbean have been affected by Hurricane Melissa, according to UNICEF.
The storm, which hit Jamaica and Cuba directly and impacted Haiti and the Dominican Republic, has completely uprooted the lives of thousands of children.
“In the wake of relentless floods across the Caribbean, hundreds of thousands of children have seen their lives upended suddenly,” said Roberto Benes, the agency’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Children urgently need food, safe drinking water and sanitation, access to health and nutrition services and a path back to education.”
More than 13,000 people in shelters in Jamaica
Thursday 30 October 2025 21:00
,
Isabel Keane
Over 13,000 people remained crowded in shelters in Jamaica on Thursday, as over 70 percent of the island was without power and only 35 percent of mobile phone sites in operation.
“We understand the frustration, we understand your anxiety, but we ask for your patience,” said Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s telecommunications and energy minister.
Water trucks have been mobilized to serve some of Jamaica’s rural communities that are not connected to the government’s utility system, Water Minister Matthew Samuda said.
With reporting by the Associated Press.
Jamaican woman hasn't heard from brother since Monday
Thursday 30 October 2025 20:30
,
Isabel Keane
Kimberly Dunkley Watkins says she hasn’t heard from her little brother since Monday, as over 70 percent of Jamaica remains without power.
“It’s probably one of the worst experiences of my life and I lived through Hurricane Gilbert,” she told NBC News. “So, it’s rough.”
Watkins was returning to Jamaica from Miami after being unable to go home after a work trip in the Bahamas.
She told the outlet her two young children and husband endured the storm from their home in Kingston, Jamaica.
Conditions in Bermuda to 'rapidly deteriorate' as Hurricane Melissa passes
Thursday 30 October 2025 20:00
,
Isabel Keane
The National Hurricane Center forecasted that weather conditions in Bermuda would “rapidly deteriorate” Thursday afternoon into the evening as Hurricane Melissa passes by to the northwest of the island.
The Category 2 storm is expected to maintain that strength as it moves past the island.
The hurricane center said sustained winds “remain near 105 mph with higher gusts” and that “little change in strength is expected.”
Public urged to be wary of crocodiles after flooding in Jamaica
Thursday 30 October 2025 19:31
,
Isabel Keane
Officials are urging residents in Jamaica to exercise extreme caution in areas near swamps, as flooding caused by Hurricane Melissa has likely displaced crocodiles.
The National Environment and Planning Agency said the heavy rain caused by the hurricane has likely pushed the potentially dangerous reptiles out of their original habitats, according to the Jamaica Observer.
People are also cautioned against feeding the animal or attempting to capture them.
Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs says he has been in contact with U.S. State Department
Thursday 30 October 2025 19:00
,
Isabel Keane
Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossio, wrote on X that they had been in contact with the Trump administration about receiving aid.
He wrote on X in Spanish, “Following public communications today regarding the damages from the hurricane, we have been in contact with the State Department and are awaiting clarification on how and in what way they are willing to assist.”
No reports of death or injuries in Bahamas
Thursday 30 October 2025 18:33
,
Isabel Keane
There were no initial reports of deaths or injuries in the Bahamas following Hurricane Melissa, which passed over the islands on Wednesday as a Category 1 storm.
Residents were evacuated to the capital, Nassau, ahead of the storm.
However, Melissa tracked over the central Bahamian islands, which were not evacuated.
Part of West Jamaica 'flattened' by storm
Thursday 30 October 2025 18:00
,
Isabel Keane
West Jamaica was destroyed by Hurricane Melissa, with some areas “flattened,” Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s information minister, said during a Thursday news briefing.
“I think the entire Jamaica is really broken because of what has happened,” she said, according to the New York Times. “But we remain resilient.”
The military was working on cutting through blocked roads to reach Black River and other decimated communities, Dixon said.
Over 130 roads were blocked by debris Thursday morning, according to Robert Morgan, Jamaica’s minister in charge of infrastructure. Military leaders were prioritizing clearing roads leading to hospitals, airports and other key infrastructure.
Officials were using helicopters to respond to reports of any bodies found.
Residents wade through flooded streets in Haiti
Thursday 30 October 2025 17:30
,
Isabel Keane
Britons fear for loved ones in devastated Jamaica in wake of Hurricane Melissa: ‘We’ve never seen anything like this’
Thursday 30 October 2025 17:00
,
Isabel Keane
Britons have spoken of their fears for relatives in Jamaica after the “storm of the century” barrelled through the Caribbean island, leaving a trail of flood and destruction.
Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday as the strongest-ever hurricane to directly hit its shores, with sustained winds of 185 mph. The category 5 storm battered hospitals, tore through an airport and swamped whole towns underwater, even unleashing the threat of displaced crocodiles.
The death toll climbed on Thursday with four fatalities confirmed as people dug from the rubble in the wake of the storm’s devastation. As the storm ploughed through the northern Caribbean on Wednesday and Thursday, a further 25 people were confirmed dead in Haiti.
More than 25,