Hurricane Melissa: Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Declared a Non-Working Day Across Haitian Territory

The Presidency takes exceptional measures in the face of the Category 5 cyclone threat. PORT-AU-PRINCE.— In response to the intensification of Hurricane Melissa, now classified as Category 5, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the Transitional Presidential Council has decreed Wednesday, October 29, 2025, a non-working day across the entire national territory. This decision, announced by the General Secretariat of the Presidency, follows the latest joint report from meteorological authorities and the National Risk and Disaster Management System (SNGRD). The collected data confirm the imminent passage of the hurricane over a large part of the country, particularly the South, Grand'Anse, Nippes, and West. “The measure aims to anticipate and limit the impacts of this Category 5 hurricane,” states the official note relayed by the media. The government calls on the population to scrupulously respect safety instructions and to remain sheltered throughout the danger period, with the next 48 hours deemed critical by meteorological services. Public establishments, schools, private businesses, and financial institutions are urged to suspend their activities to reduce risks associated with travel and potential collapses. According to the latest satellite observations, Melissa is generating sustained winds exceeding 250 km/h and heavy rains likely to cause devastating floods and landslides. Images released by international meteorological centers show that the eye of the cyclone is dangerously approaching the Jamaican coasts and slowly moving towards the west and southwest of Haiti. Civil Protection authorities maintain the entire country on red alert, while calling for vigilance in mountainous and coastal areas. Rapid intervention teams have been pre-positioned in several departments to assist vulnerable populations. Relief structures, security forces, and emergency services remain in a state of permanent mobilization. Temporary shelters have been opened in at-risk communes, particularly in Les Cayes, Jérémie, Miragoâne, and Léogâne. As Melissa continues its trajectory towards the northwest Caribbean, Haitian authorities reaffirm their commitment to protecting the population and minimizing human and material losses. “Prudence and preparation are our best weapons against this type of phenomenon,” recalls the statement from the General Secretariat of the Presidency. Jean Mapou