What's happened
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds, caused widespread damage in Jamaica and Cuba, with power outages, landslides, and flooding. The storm's severity is worsened by climate change, deforestation, and terrain susceptibility, raising concerns about future risks in the region.
What's behind the headline?
The storm's rapid intensification underscores the influence of climate change, as warmer oceans fuel hurricanes. The loss of old-growth forests and vegetation near waterways has made floods more 'flashy' and dangerous, increasing the risk of landslides in mountainous areas like Jamaica. Experts warn that these environmental vulnerabilities will likely worsen, making future storms even more destructive.
The region's terrain and deforestation significantly amplify disaster risks. Jamaica, losing 7.4% of its tree cover since 2001, faces heightened landslide danger, especially in steep, cleared areas. Heavy rainfall, up to 40 inches, combined with terrain instability, will likely lead to more frequent and severe landslides.
The broader context reveals a pattern of increasing heavy rains followed by drought, which destabilizes soil and heightens flood risks. Climate change is accelerating these trends, making hurricanes more intense and floods more rapid. The region's trauma and preparedness levels will determine resilience, but environmental degradation is a clear threat to future safety.
Overall, Melissa's impact exemplifies how climate change and environmental neglect are transforming natural hazards into more deadly and unpredictable events, demanding urgent regional and global action to mitigate these risks.
What the papers say
The Independent highlights the chaos and devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, emphasizing the storm's extreme winds and rainfall, and the difficulty in assessing damage due to ongoing chaos and power outages. AP News provides a detailed account of the storm's impact, including the widespread power outages, landslides, and the loss of life, while also discussing the environmental factors such as deforestation and terrain that exacerbate disaster risks. Both sources agree on the storm's severity and the environmental vulnerabilities, but The Independent emphasizes the chaos and uncertainty on the ground, whereas AP focuses more on the immediate damage and response efforts. The articles collectively underscore the increasing danger posed by such storms in the Caribbean, driven by climate change and environmental degradation.
How we got here
Hurricane Melissa intensified rapidly over warm Atlantic waters, reaching Category 5 status. The Caribbean region, already vulnerable due to climate change, deforestation, and mountainous terrain, faces increased risks of landslides and flooding. Jamaica and Cuba are particularly susceptible, with recent forest loss and heavy rainfall exacerbating disaster impacts.
Go deeper
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Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean where the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean meet.
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Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometres in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean.
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Hispaniola is an island in the Caribbean archipelago known as the Greater Antilles. It is the most populous island in the West Indies and the region's second largest after Cuba.