Situation Report 6 Jamaica - Hurricane Melissa.1 November 2025

On 28 October 2025 at 12 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 facility will be established to provide in-patient, outpatient, and surgical services following the destruction of the local hospital. Two additional EMTs have also been approved, with site selection for their deployment expected within days. Several health facilities have sustained significant damage, and services in St. Elizabeth are severely compromised. Communication remains limited in some areas, and field assessments are ongoing, with many roads still impassable. 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 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. On the 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.