Jamaica Struggles to Recover from Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica faces a multibillion-dollar recovery after Hurricane Melissa, its strongest-ever storm, caused devastation across the island, killing dozens and forcing Prime Minister Andrew Holness to warn of worsening climate extremes and appeal for global aid.

Jamaica is reeling from the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm ever recorded to hit the island, which has left widespread destruction, economic turmoil, and deep national grief in its wake.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed that the category-five hurricane has caused damages estimated at up to 32 per cent of Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product, equating to roughly 7 billion US dollars. The storm devastated homes, farmlands, and critical tourism infrastructure, while at least 75 people across the Caribbean have been reported dead.

Addressing the nation, Holness described the storm as “a warning” of worsening climate extremes and said the financial toll would push the country’s debt higher, forcing temporary suspension of fiscal rules to accommodate recovery spending. “We will rebuild stronger,” he pledged, urging international partners to step in with aid and climate finance to support the recovery effort.

Entire communities across parishes such as St Ann, Manchester, and Clarendon have been left without electricity or running water. Roads remain blocked by fallen trees and debris, while emergency services continue to search for the missing. In Montego Bay, one of the country’s key tourism hubs, severe flooding and infrastructure damage have paralysed hotels and small businesses.

Economists warn that the financial impact could set back Jamaica’s growth trajectory by several years, particularly in sectors heavily reliant on agriculture and tourism. The government has begun coordinating relief supplies, temporary shelters, and emergency food distribution, with support from regional organisations and the United Nations.

Holness said the disaster underscores the urgent need for equitable climate finance and faster global action. “The Caribbean continues to pay the price for a warming world it did not create,” he noted, calling for developed nations to meet their climate funding commitments.

Environmental experts have echoed this sentiment, saying the storm’s unprecedented strength highlights the dangers of rising ocean temperatures and inadequate adaptation funding for small island states.

As the island begins the long and painful task of rebuilding, Jamaicans face not only the physical aftermath of the storm but also a renewed reckoning with the global climate crisis — one that has made their vulnerability impossible to ignore.