News

Denise 'Macka' Sinclair, of Bottom Halse Hall in Clarendon, says Hurricane Melissa caused the sinkhole behind her house to rise to window level so she had to run out due of fear.
December 9, 2025 by Karen Madden

Melissa revisits trauma on Halse Hall family

Haunted by memories of their matriarch who they lost during flood rains in 2021, a family in Bottom Halse Hall, Clarendon was forced to flee their home as flood waters from a nearby pond, swollen by…
Jesse Samuel, fisherman of Rocky Point in Clarendon, said even though his house was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, he is giving thanks for life and that his boat engines were spared. He his making plans to head out to sea by th
December 9, 2025 by Karen Madden

A horrible day in Rocky Point

Unlike Hurricane Beryl last year, Hurricane Melissa did not wreak widespread destruction on the fishing village of Rocky Point in Clarendon. However, having fled Pedro Cays ahead of this week's…
A section of the farm at Eastern Banana Estates, shows how complete was the destruction caused by Hurricane Gilbert in September 1988.
December 9, 2025 by Paul H. Williams

More destruction in the 1800s and 1900s

THERE WAS a hurricane from October 12 to 14 in 1812, August 1813, October 1815, October and November 1818, August 1832, and October 1875. In the occurrence of August 18-19, 1880, in eastern Jamaica,…
Workers at the Norman Manley International Airport during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025.
December 9, 2025

Phased reopening of island’s airports anticipated following Melissa - AAJ

The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) says following a detailed assessment, a phased reopening of the island’s international airports and domestic aerodromes is anticipated amid the passage of…
Layford Johnson, a resident of Nashville in Mandeville, Manchester, speaking about his experience with Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025

‘Really scary’, Nashville, Mandeville man recounts ‘terrible’ Hurricane Melissa

"If mi faith neva strong maybe mi wudda go crazy to how this ya hurricane behave," Layford Johnson, a resident of Nashville in Mandeville, Manchester, said as he recalled the terrifying…
A man walks in the rain before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Canizo, a village in Santiago de Cuba, Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramón Espinosa)
December 9, 2025

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Cuba after pummelling Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa was grinding across Cuba on Wednesday, weakening to a Category 2 storm, after pummelling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, the US National Hurricane…
Flood waters along Ward Avenue in Mandeville, Manchester from Hurricane Melissa.
December 9, 2025

Flash flood watch issued as more rains expected from Melissa, tropical storm warning discontinued

The Met Office has issued a flash flood watch for northern, southwestern, and south-central parishes, as Hurricane Melissa continues to move away from Jamaica. At the same time, it has discontinued…
The Norman Manley International Airport during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28.
December 9, 2025

Norman Manley airport conducting post-hurricane assessments

PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), the operator of the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, says it is undertaking comprehensive checks before transitioning into restoration and a…
A work crew clearing downed trees and other debris from a section of the Mandela Highway in St Catherine on October 29, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa the day before.
December 9, 2025

All clear issued following Hurricane Melissa, utilities to move to restoration mode

The Government has issued an all clear for Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. This following guidance from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica and the Office of Disaster…