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The Caribbean’s idyllic shores and vibrant communities now lie in ruins after Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic path. The Category 4 storm unleashed 130+ mph winds and biblical flooding, crushing infrastructure, claiming lives, and displacing thousands. Below, a breakdown of the hardest-hit regions and urgent recovery needs.
Island-by-Island: Hurricane Melissa’s Trail of Ruin
Barbados: “Unprecedented” Damage
Melissa’s first strike flattened neighborhoods in Barbados, toppling power lines and leaving 90% of residents without electricity. PM Mia Mottley called it “the worst storm in decades,” with emergency crews racing to clear debris-blocked roads.
Dominica & St. Lucia: Deadly Landslides
Dominica—still scarred from 2017’s Hurricane Maria—endured nightmare déjà vu as landslides buried villages. In St. Lucia, overflowing rivers swept away homes, with survivors describing “walls of mud” destroying everything in their path.
Haiti & Dominican Republic: Flooding Chaos
Haiti’s fragile infrastructure collapsed under torrential rain, triggering a cholera outbreak in waterlogged tent cities. Neighboring DR saw capital streets transform into rapids, with emergency teams using boats to rescue stranded families.
Jamaica & Cuba: Economic Blow
Though weakened, Melissa’s storm surges swamped Jamaica’s coastlines, while Cuba’s vital tobacco farms—key to its economy—were decimated. Over 50,000 evacuated; officials warn recovery could take years.
Humanitarian Crisis: By the Numbers
- 50+ confirmed dead (toll expected to rise)
- 200,000+ displaced
- $500M+ in preliminary damage estimates
- Cholera outbreaks reported in Haiti
Aid groups face logistical nightmares: “Roads are gone, airports damaged—we’re airlifting supplies,” said a Red Cross coordinator.
Climate Change Debate Reignited
Caribbean leaders demand action as scientists link Melissa’s intensity to warming seas. “We’re paying for the world’s carbon emissions with our lives,” argued Dominica’s PM.
How to Help Hurricane Melissa Survivors
- Donate to: Red Cross (caribbeanrelief.org), UNICEF, or local orgs like Barbados’ CDEMA
- Share verified updates to combat misinformation
- Pressure policymakers on climate aid
The Long Road Ahead
With storms growing fiercer, the Caribbean’s resilience is being tested like never before. Recovery requires global solidarity—because today’s disaster could be tomorrow’s precedent.
Follow NextMinuteNews for real-time updates on relief efforts.
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