Situation Report 5 Jamaica - Hurricane Melissa. 31 Oct. 2025

On 28 October 2025 at noon, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica’s south coast near New Hope, Westmoreland, causing catastrophic damage across the Southern and Western Regions. In response, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) has authorized the deployment of a Type 2 Emergency Medical Team (EMT) to Black River, St. Elizabeth, where a temporary hospital will be established to provide inpatient, outpatient, and surgical services following the destruction of the local hospital. Two additional EMTs have also been approved, with site selection expected within days. Several health facilities have been severely impacted, and services in St. Elizabeth are significantly compromised, with limited communication and impassable roads complicating field assessments. As of 31 October, nineteen deaths have been confirmed due to injuries sustained before and during the hurricane. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is actively supporting MOHW’s preparedness and response efforts, focusing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Post-Disaster Infrastructure Assessments, and continuity of health services. A WASH specialist arrived in Jamaica on 31 October and met with MOHW on 1 November to identify priority interventions. That same day, PAHO co-led the first Health Cluster meeting with MOHW in Kingston. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) remains activated at Level 3.