Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean, has begun to weaken after devastating Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, leaving at least 50 people dead and billions in damages.

  BulletsIn

•  Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest to hit Jamaica directly since 1988
•  At least 50 confirmed dead: 19 in Jamaica, 31 in Haiti; dozens missing
•  Estimated $48 billion–$52 billion in total damages and economic losses
•  Jamaica’s southwest worst hit; over 462,000 people still without power
•  Black River and Falmouth towns reported “apocalyptic” destruction
•  In Haiti, torrential rains caused rivers to overflow, killing 23 in Petit-Goave alone
•  Flooding destroyed homes, roads, crops, and livestock; cholera risk rising
•  Cuba hit as Category 3 storm; no deaths, but severe infrastructure damage
•  Thousands evacuated around Santiago de Cuba and eastern provinces
•  Scientists link rapid hurricane intensification to warming oceans from greenhouse gases
•  Caribbean leaders renew calls for climate reparations and debt relief from rich nations