Black River, Jamaica – Video filmed by X user Hester Prynne shows Hurricane Melissa, a rare Category 5 storm packing 160 mph winds, slamming Jamaica’s southern coast on October 28, 2025. The storm’s slow movement dumped between 200 and 300 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours, unleashing catastrophic flash floods across St. Elizabeth parish.

The Black River overflowed its banks by midday, transforming streets into violent torrents. Neighborhoods such as Brigade Street and areas near Bakery and Juici Beef were buried under one to two meters of muddy water. Homes, gas stations, and the local hospital were flooded, with emergency care halted due to severe damage.

The Santa Cruz Bypass between Black River and Mandeville turned into a debris-filled river, trapping vehicles and cutting off routes as bridges buckled and roads collapsed. Power outages left thousands in the dark.

Authorities confirmed at least three deaths in Jamaica, part of thirteen region-wide fatalities that included victims in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Dozens were rescued from rooftops and attics, while the Jamaica Constabulary Force documented widespread devastation. Over 500 people were evacuated, and the National Disaster Risk Management Authority opened shelters, though blocked roads slowed relief efforts.

Hurricane Melissa’s sluggish pace of five miles per hour intensified the rainfall, marking one of Jamaica’s worst disasters since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Cleanup operations began on October 29 as international assistance from the U.S. and CARICOM moved toward the island.

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