Situation Report 9 Jamaica - Hurricane Melissa. 4 November 2025

On 28 October 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast near New Hope, Westmoreland, as a Category 5 storm, prompting the Prime Minister to declare the entire country a disaster area. The hurricane caused catastrophic damage in the southern and western regions, resulting in 32 confirmed deaths by 3 November, including three fatalities prior to landfall. In response, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated US$4 million for humanitarian operations, and PAHO is preparing the health sector proposal.

Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) have been mobilized, with one deployed to Black River Hospital and three Type 2 EMTs confirmed for Falmouth, Cornwall Regional, and Savannah-La-Mar hospitals. The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) has also requested Type 1 facilities to expand access to primary care. PAHO’s damage assessment at Cornwall Regional Hospital revealed extensive roof damage, with 50% of the roof lost in operational areas. Meanwhile, five hospitals in the South-East Region have resumed full services, including key referral centers in Kingston and surrounding areas.

On 4 November, the second Hurricane Melissa Health Sector Group meeting was held in Kingston, gathering over 250 representatives from donor agencies, NGOs, and government officials. The MOHW and PAHO, co-leads of the group, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts. PAHO continues to support MOHW in maintaining health services, water and sanitation (WASH), mental health and psychosocial support, infrastructure assessments, and overall coordination. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) remains at Level 3 activation.