Hurricane Melissa kills at least 49 across the Caribbean, leaves ‘devastation’ in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa has killed at least 49 people across the northern Caribbean, a toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue through the storm’s wreckage.

Haiti reported at least 30 deaths and 20 people missing on Thursday, despite not taking a direct hit. Days of relentless rain from the slow-moving storm triggered floods and landslides across the country. Jamaica has confirmed 19 deaths, Reuters said, while the Dominican Republic reported one fatality before the hurricane moved on.

Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded, slammed into Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane with winds up to 295 kilometres per hour (183 mph). The capital, Kingston, was spared a direct hit, but Jamaica’s western region suffered what officials called “devastation.”

The storm weakened to Category 3 strength before hitting Cuba, then swept past the Bahamas on Wednesday night. The US National Hurricane Center said Melissa is expected to pass within 60 kilometres (37 miles) of Bermuda.

No deaths have been reported in Cuba so far, though its eastern provinces endured fierce winds and flooding. Across the region, hundreds of thousands remain without power, including 70 percent of Jamaica’s electricity grid, Reuters reported.

UN Resident Coordinator Dennis Zulu said early assessments indicate a level of destruction “never seen before” in Jamaica. Cleanup crews across several islands are clearing debris and restoring power as international aid begins to arrive.

The US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Jamaica, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Cuba.

AccuWeather estimated preliminary economic losses from Hurricane Melissa at between $48 and $52 billion.