Mexico City, 29 October 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica on Tuesday, unleashing torrential rain and winds that flooded towns, destroyed homes and cut power to more than half a million households, prompting the government to declare the island a disaster zone.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness told CNN that while there was no reliable information yet on fatalities, authorities believed people had likely lost their lives given the scale of destruction.

Holness' government earlier declared the Caribbean island a disaster area, saying "these orders give the Government the tools to continue managing our response to Hurricane Melissa."

The Category 5 hurricane — the strongest classification — reached Jamaica on Tuesday, bringing storm surges, flash floods and wind gusts up to 295 kilometres per hour (km/h).

According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa is currently moving towards Cuba's south-eastern coast as a Category 4 storm, bringing wind speeds of up to 215 km/h.

Cuba evacuates over 700,000 people

Cuban authorities said they had evacuated more than 735,000 people ahead of Melissa's arrival. "It will be a very difficult night for all of Cuba," President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned, calling it one of the most powerful storms to ever threaten the island.

The NHC warned of life-threatening flooding and potential landslides caused by torrential rain, destructive gusts and storm surges reaching up to 4 metres in some areas. On Wednesday evening, Melissa is expected to move on towards the Bahamas.

In Jamaica, widespread damage was reported across the south-west, particularly in St Elizabeth parish, which officials described as being "underwater." Flooded roads, toppled trees and downed power lines left parts of the region cut off. Hospitals, schools and bridges also sustained heavy damage.

"This is one of the worst experiences that we have ever encountered," said local government minister Desmond McKenzie. Nearly 15,000 people sought refuge in emergency shelters as soldiers and reservists joined rescue operations.

Authorities said the full extent of the devastation remained unclear, even hours after the hurricane made landfall. The United Nations said it was coordinating sea shipments of relief supplies from Barbados, with air deliveries to follow once weather conditions improve.

Meteorologists warned that heavy rain and strong winds could persist for days even after Melissa moves away from Jamaica.

Climate scientists say global warming is increasing the likelihood of powerful tropical storms like Melissa. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Photo: EPA