Hurricane Melissa Devastation in Jamaica Revealed by Satellite Imagery

Hurricane Melissa's Impact on Jamaica

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa caused widespread devastation across Jamaica, with the full scale of destruction becoming clearer through satellite imagery.
• 🛰️ BBC Verify analyzed before and after satellite images, focusing on the town of Black River on the southwest coast.

Devastation in Black River

• 🏘️ The town of Black River, home to thousands, experienced severe damage, with roofs ripped off buildings and debris covering the streets.
• 📉 The Black River Market, a central hub, was heavily damaged, as were smaller establishments like the Soul River Cafe.
• 🌊 The river burst its banks, contributing significantly to the flooding and destruction within the town.

Extent of Damage and Response

• 📈 The devastation is described as extensive, with floodwaters inundating streets and altering the landscape visible from space.
• 🇺🇸 The US is sending a disaster response team to assess the damage on the ground.
• 🇬🇧 The British government is working to evacuate approximately 8,000 British nationals from the island.
• ⚠️ Images clearly show the severe impact, with buildings heavily damaged and debris lining every street.