Hurricane Melissa blasted across Jamaica on Tuesday as a record Category 5 storm, then struck eastern Cuba early Wednesday as a Category 3, unleashing catastrophic winds, flooding, and landslides. Officials confirmed casualties in Jamaica and mass evacuations in Cuba as airports closed, cruises rerouted, and resorts locked down to protect guests.
Human toll and damage from Hurricane Melissa
- Jamaica: Authorities and major outlets reported at least three deaths linked to storm preparations and dozens of injuries, with the southwest (St Elizabeth/Clarendon) among the worst hit. Hospitals sustained damage, power was knocked out to large swaths of the grid, and roads were impassable in multiple parishes. The government declared a disaster as assessments began at first light.
- Cuba (eastern provinces): The NHC confirmed landfall near Chivirico (west of Santiago de Cuba) with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). Cuba’s civil defense evacuated hundreds of thousands ahead of the strike across Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas. Life-threatening flooding and landslides remain likely as the core moves northeast.
Region-wide, outlets tally at least seven deaths to date across the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, with numbers expected to change as access improves.
Travel and transport to and from Jamaica or Cuba
- Airports: Jamaica’s MBJ (Montego Bay) and KIN (Kingston) suspended operations during the peak. At the same time, SCU (Santiago de Cuba) and HOG (Holguín) closed in eastern Cuba as authorities prioritized evacuations and damage checks. Carriers issued waivers and rolled cancellations.
- Cruises: Major lines diverted itineraries away from Jamaica and eastern Cuba, substituting safer western Caribbean ports. (Operators advised guests to monitor apps and emails for rebooking policies.)
Hotels & Resorts: Lockdowns, evacuations, and phased re-openings
- Jamaica (north & west coasts): Resorts from Negril–Montego Bay–Ocho Rios placed guests under shelter-in-place protocols, restricting movement to interior hallways/ballrooms during the worst winds. Brand emergency playbooks (e.g., Sandals/Beaches) were activated, with property teams securing grounds, staging generators and water, and communicating through guest apps and notice boards. The Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC) was activated to coordinate with national disaster agencies and hotel associations.
- Cuba (Holguín/Santiago de Cuba): Provincial media reported ~1,900 tourists evacuated from coastal hotels around Guardalavaca/Playa Esmeralda to sturdier facilities inland or safer destinations before landfall. With HOG/SCU closed and roads affected, hotels in the east limited check-ins and sheltered remaining guests until conditions eased.
- Elsewhere in Cuba: Government/consular advisories flagged “avoid all travel” to the five eastern provinces but noted other resort hubs (e.g., Varadero; Jardines del Rey—Cayo Coco/Guillermo; Cayo Santa María) were operating with precautions outside the core impact zone.
What travelers to Jamaica or Cuba should expect next:
Rolling airport and hotel re-openings after structural inspections, reduced services (power/water/connectivity) in hard-hit areas, and flex policies from airlines/tour operators for date changes around Oct 28–31. Contact your hotel and carrier before heading to any airport.
Forecast and outlook after Hurricane Melissa
Forecasters warn of prolonged flooding/landslides in Cuba as Melissa tracks toward the Bahamas, with watches posted for Bermuda. Officials stress that casualty and damage figures may rise as remote areas are reached and communications restored.
