Jamaica declares 'disaster area' as Hurricane Melissa tears through Caribbean islands

Hurricane Melissa has torn through the Caribbean, slamming into Cuba while leaving parts of neighbouring Jamaica broken and reeling from ferocious winds and extreme rainfall.

- Natricia Duncan Mandeville Anthony Lugg Portland Oliver Holmes

The effects of the colossal hurricane were felt across the region, even in countries that were not directly in its path. In Haiti, residents of a small town were mourning the death of 25 people swept away in floods.

The most intense tropical cyclone to hit Jamaica in nearly two centuries, Melissa is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes observed since records began. Climate scientists say human-caused global heating has contributed to the rapid intensification of modern-day storms.

Many Jamaicans woke up yesterday without power and whole neighbourhoods were submerged. The prime minister, Andrew Holness, has declared the country a disaster area, giving authorities powers to issue mandatory evacuation orders for flooded regions and to prevent price gouging.

Massive damage was reported across the island, much of it in the west, where the category 5 cyclonic storm moved diagonally across ground at a slow pace, ripping roofs from buildings and flipping over cars. Photos showed a tree ripped out of the ground by the roots and roads submerged by gravel and earth.

Jamaica's minister of local government, Desmond McKenzie, said the hurricane was "one of the worst experiences that [Jamaica] has ever encountered".

"Our infrastructure has been severely compromised," he said. "The entire Jamaica has felt the brunt of Melissa." There are close to 15,000 people in shelters and more than 530,000 without electricity, in a country of 2.8 million.

In Mandeville, the capital of Manchester parish, residents were thankful that it was not as badly hit as other parts of the island, even if serious damage was visible. The city's streets were strewn with the detritus the hurricane left in its wake - large felled trees blocked roads, some homes had their roofs missing and power lines had been downed.