Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic

Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation across the Caribbean, with dozens killed and billions of dollars worth of damage inflicted across the region. The “storm of the century” is one of the most powerful in Atlantic history. At least 49 people have been killed so far, including 19 in Jamaica, 30 in Haiti, and one person in the Dominican Republic.

At least 10 children were killed due to flooding caused by the storm when a river burst in Haiti. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts get underway. Melissa began as a tropical wave near West Africa, before gaining traction and blowing westward to the Caribbean.