Devastation in Jamaica and Cuba after Hurricane Melissa: All the information for tourists

Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica with winds of up to 295 kilometers per hour, leaving a trail of devastation. Thousands of buildings were destroyed, roads flooded, and a large portion of the population was left without power. Jamaica was declared a disaster area.

“I don’t have any reliable information about fatalities yet, but given the damage caused by the Category 5 hurricane, we expect that people have lost their lives,” said Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made landfall on Tuesday – it is the most powerful hurricane ever to directly hit the Caribbean nation. The storm has now reached Cuba, where life-threatening flooding is also occurring. Videos show streets turning into raging rivers.

Meteorologists have warned of flooding, landslides, and severe devastation in Cuba, similar to the situation in Jamaica. This article details which other countries are affected and what travelers need to know.

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According to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, the hurricane, after hitting Jamaica , is now approaching the coast of Cuba . Haiti and the Dominican Republic are also affected.

Before making landfall in Jamaica, "Melissa" was upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane – the highest category. A hurricane of this strength is characterized by sustained wind speeds exceeding 251 kilometers per hour. However, individual gusts can reach speeds up to 50 percent higher.

"This is one of the worst experiences we have ever had," Jamaican Minister for Local Government Desmond McKenzie told the German Press Agency (dpa). Southwestern Jamaica is underwater – hospitals and bridges have been destroyed, and storm gusts have toppled trees and power lines.

Jamaican authorities have already declared a state of emergency. All airports on the island – including the capital's airport in Kingston – are closed. More than half a million people in Jamaica are without power.

The St. Elizabeth region has been particularly hard hit: "There is widespread damage in southwestern St. Elizabeth, with numerous floods and extensive wind damage to schools, hospitals, and homes," says Richard Thompson, Director-General of the Office of Emergency Management and Disaster Relief (ODPEM). The military will now assist with the cleanup efforts. The UN also intends to provide aid, initially only by sea, as the airports remain closed.

Several towns in Jamaica have been evacuated, with around 15,000 people seeking refuge in emergency shelters. Three people have already died in Jamaica while attempting to cut down trees in preparation for the storm, even before the hurricane made landfall. However, the death toll is expected to rise significantly. The Red Cross anticipates "unprecedented" damage.

Local media report that people are trapped in their homes due to flooding and cannot be reached by rescue workers. Because the storm is moving slowly, meteorologists expect extreme rainfall to continue for several days.

The hurricane is also bringing torrential rains to Cuba , causing flooding and landslides, as well as life-threatening wind speeds. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the hurricane will make landfall "with full force." "It will be a very difficult night for all of Cuba, but we will recover." Up to 735,000 people have been evacuated.

People in Cuba tried to escape the danger zones by wading through knee-deep water. The good news: According to the US National Hurricane Center, "Melissa" has weakened and is only a Category 3 hurricane in Cuba – nevertheless, wind speeds of up to 195 kilometers per hour were recorded. The city of Jiguaní appears to be particularly hard hit by the flooding.

The hurricane is also expected to cause damage in southeastern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic . Storm surges and landslides could damage infrastructure and cut off communities, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Heavy rainfall has already reportedly devastated at least a significant number of people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Republic has lost its lives. The La Digue river burst its banks and destroyed houses in the town of Petit-Goâve; people were buried under the rubble.

The southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands are also expected to be hit by heavy rainfall and life-threatening winds. Six islands belonging to the Bahamas have been evacuated as a precaution.

The hurricane is already the 13th storm of the current hurricane season, which lasts from June to November, and is considered the strongest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica.

In light of the hurricane and its severe impact, the German Foreign Office has tightened its travel advice for the region. Tourists are advised to postpone or cancel planned trips to the affected areas .

Travellers staying locally are advised to register on the crisis preparedness list of the Foreign Office and follow developments through local media . There is an online overview of official regulations , and a map of the country shows the location of emergency shelters .

According to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, there are currently around 25,000 tourists in Jamaica. Many are stranded due to closed airports. Travelers whose flights have been canceled are advised to stay in their hotels.

In general, travelers currently traveling on a package tour to regions affected by extreme weather can contact their tour operator. If hotel evacuations are necessary or rebookings for tours are necessary, tour operators will organize these for package travelers free of charge. If you booked your vacation individually, you will have to arrange alternative accommodation or return flights yourself.

In so-called extraordinary circumstances, such as severe hurricanes, the tour operator must support vacationers and, if necessary, arrange for an early return trip. Or pay for additional overnight stays (up to three days) if departure is not possible due to weather conditions.

Those who have booked individually, for example, flights and accommodation with different providers, may have a harder time. According to the Hamburg Consumer Advice Center, the following applies:

• For non-cancellable airline tickets, you can only get a refund of taxes and fees if you don't plan to use them. The full price is only refunded if the airline cancels the flight. It's good to know: In such cases, you may be entitled to assistance.
• If you can't get to your accommodation because, for example, your flight is canceled due to extreme weather, you generally still have to pay the price – unless the provider is accommodating. The situation is different if the accommodation is unavailable due to the local situation – in which case you are generally entitled to a refund, although the legal regulations may vary depending on the country.

Travel cancellation and trip interruption insurance policies often exclude natural disasters as a benefit. Some policies do, however, include them in their coverage. Therefore, it's a good idea to check the insurance terms and conditions for this, according to consumer advocates.

Anyone planning a vacation in the affected region in the coming days and weeks should follow media reports and contact their travel provider in advance to find out about possible goodwill arrangements. Hurricanes, like wildfires or earthquakes, are considered extraordinary circumstances. However, there are legal differences between package and individual tours.

With a package holiday, you can cancel free of charge if the hurricane has caused severe damage to the holiday destination and there are specific disruptions or an evacuation is planned. However, if you booked your flight and hotel separately, i.e., directly with the airline and the accommodation provider, you are also taking on the risk. In this case, holidaymakers can only hope for a goodwill gesture.

As reported by " Touristik aktuell ", many travel providers have already contacted holidaymakers in the affected regions. In some cases, free cancellations have been offered.

What do travelers need to know right now? You can find all the important news for your vacation at reisereporter .

Travel reporter