(Adnkronos) – Hurricane Melissa is hitting the Bahamas with devastating winds and torrential rains, after causing the death of at least 34 people in Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti. The death toll continues to rise as the hurricane, which was initially a Category 5 storm and has now weakened to Category 2, moves across the Bahamas and is expected to pass near Bermuda.
Haitian authorities have stated that at least 25 people, including children, have died. Eight deaths have been confirmed in Jamaica, while one death has been reported in the Dominican Republic, bringing the currently known death toll in the Caribbean to 34. Cuba has not yet reported any casualties but has suffered widespread destruction.
In Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the situation as “total devastation” across the island, with people trapped on rooftops and without electricity. After hitting Cuba as a Category 3 storm, President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the moment Melissa passed “a very complex night, with significant damage reported,” adding that rescue and recovery operations will begin as soon as conditions allow.
