Jamaica plunged into darkness after Hurricane Melissa passes through: There is only rain and violent wind'

"After what seemed like an eternity of anticipation, as the massive storm slowly approached, Hurricane Melissa finally made landfall in southwestern Jamaica around midday on Tuesday. Winds uprooted trees and downed power lines, and the resulting storm surge, several meters high, and flooding from swollen rivers and saturated ground have left St. Elizabeth Parish one of the country's 14 administrative subdivisions underwater."

"Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie announced at a press conference that by mid-afternoon Tuesday, with the latest data available, more than 530,000 customers approximately 77% of Jamaica Public Service's customer base were without power. The minister assured the public that restoration work was underway, prioritizing hospitals and water pumping stations to maintain essential services. However, McKenzie warned that most Jamaicans would spend Tuesday night without electricity amid widespread flooding and blocked roads."

"As night fell, the Caribbean nation was plunged into darkness by widespread power outages, while damage assessments began as best as possible amid the aftershocks of what is shaping up to be the strongest hurricane in the country's history. So far, there have been no official reports of deaths from the storm, but authorities warn that this will change when the storm has passed on Wednesday."

Hurricane Melissa struck southwestern Jamaica around midday Tuesday, producing sustained violent winds, a multi-meter storm surge, and heavy river and ground flooding. St. Elizabeth Parish and other low-lying areas were inundated, making many streets impassable. Widespread power outages affected roughly 530,000 customers, about 77% of the national utility's base, with restoration crews prioritizing hospitals and water pumping stations. Damage assessments began amid blocked roads and continued bad weather. No official deaths were reported at the time, but authorities warned casualty figures could rise once the storm fully passes. Residents reported uprooted trees, collapsed roofs, and flooded homes and vehicles.

Read at english.elpais.com