Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica as the strongest recorded storm to make landfall in country's history, leaving behind widespread damage.

Kingston

Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall in Jamaica, swept across the island in six hours, leaving widespread devastation. Many areas remain unreachable, with significant disruptions to electricity and internet services. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has pledged to focus on recovery efforts, while international aid, including $8 million from Canada, is being mobilized to provide essential supplies.

The hurricane's impact extended beyond Jamaica, causing deadly flooding in Haiti and severe damage in Cuba. Relief organizations are prioritizing life-sustaining initiatives such as water and food distribution as the region faces a challenging recovery process.

Hurricane Melissa slams Jamaica, causing widespread damage

This is what Hurricane Melissa left behind after it swept across Jamaica in just six hours on Tuesday. At Category 5, it was the strongest recorded storm to make landfall in the country's history. From the air, the devastation is even more striking, and for the residents who lived through it, frightening. The wind, it was violent. It was terrible for all of us. I have a son here, and believe me, he was actually crying. Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness surveyed the damage in the hardest-hit area of St. Elizabeth. On X, he wrote, we are going to devote all our energy to mount a strong recovery. Many parts of the island nation are still unreachable with no electricity or internet. It is not going to be an easy road, Jamaica. Robert Collins is a Canadian living in Jamaica. He's pleading for help. Some of the relationships that Jamaica has gained as a country, as a tourism country, we need to tap into those relationships, and we need to call out for help because we need it. Canada has released $8 million in aid funding through the United Nations. The U.N. says they're working to mobilize supplies as soon as it's possible. Immediately, some of the action that will be taken is really around life support initiatives and life-sustaining initiatives, making available water, food, and other resources that are needed by the people who have been affected. Melissa's path stretched beyond Jamaica. It also triggered deadly flooding in Haiti, where torrential rains destroyed roads and homes and caused widespread damage in Cuba Wednesday. Yanelis Kundilan describes the storm hitting her home. It was terrible, she says. The roof is gone, the kitchen, everything. The water flooded inside. The entire region bracing for a long recovery that's only beginning. Chris Reyes, CBC News, New York.

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Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday after ripping through Jamaica. CBS News' Jarred Hill has more details.

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Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Cuba after slamming Jamaica

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Hurricane Melissa, a massive Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica, barreling in from the Atlantic with 185 mph sustained winds, the National Hurricane Center said. CBS News meteorologist Jessica Burch has more.

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica

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