Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation across the Caribbean, with at least 75 people confirmed dead in Haiti and Jamaica, according to local and international reports.

The powerful storm, which struck the region in late October, unleashed torrential rains and triggered widespread flooding and landslides, severely impacting communities and infrastructure.Haiti’s Civil Protection Directorate reported that 43 people have died and seven remain missing, while nearly 12,000 homes have been flooded, 176 completely destroyed, and over 4,000 damaged to varying degrees. Rescue operations continue in several provinces as authorities warn of further landslide risks.

In Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that 32 people have lost their lives in the disaster, estimating total damages between 6 and 7 billion dollars. “This is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a severe blow to livelihoods and local economies. We are facing an unprecedented catastrophe,” Holness said, noting that key tourist regions such as Saint Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Saint James were among the hardest hit.

Cuba has not yet released an official casualty figure, but UN data indicate that Hurricane Melissa affected approximately 2.2 million people in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo. The UN also reported damage to around 60,000 homes, 461 health facilities, and more than 1,500 schools.

Humanitarian agencies have mobilized to deliver emergency aid to the affected populations as recovery efforts continue amid widespread destruction.(ILKHA)