The death toll from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica has risen to at least 28, according to the latest casualty report provided by the Government this Sunday (November 2, 2025). The Office of Jamaica's Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, indicated in a statement that they are still verifying "additional reports of possible fatalities." The latest death toll reported by authorities was 19, but this figure is being updated as emergency teams reach areas isolated by the hurricane. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and communities mourning the loss of their loved ones," the Prime Minister's Office said in its statement. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Police, the Jamaica Defence Force, and the Ministry of Health are coordinating the body recovery and verification process. The Government stated that it will provide more information as verification and recovery operations progress in the coming days, following the passage of Melissa, which struck the country as a Category 5 hurricane.

Devastating Impact

The west of the island, where the hurricane made landfall, is the worst affected area, specifically the districts of Saint Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Saint James. In Black River, the capital of Saint Elizabeth, work is scheduled to begin today to establish a field hospital, a measure that will also be taken in the coming days in other affected areas. Melissa caused catastrophic damage to homes and critical infrastructure such as hospitals and roads in Jamaica, leaving communities destroyed and isolated. While authorities continue to assess the damage, experts say it is clear that the hurricane, one of the most powerful to ever make landfall, dealt a devastating blow to tens of thousands of Jamaican fishermen and farmers who feed their families and nearby communities. A similar impact is also expected in Cuba and Haiti.