Hurricane Melissa Leaves About Twenty Dead in Petit Goave
By Gedeon Delva · Port-au-Prince · · 1 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
About twenty people died in Petit Goave following floods caused by Hurricane Melissa. Local authorities also report about ten missing persons. The overflowing river « La Digue » left its banks and inundated a large part of the city.
In addition to the city of Petit Goave, the torrential rains caused by Melissa led to devastating floods in several departments, including the South.
According to local media, authorities are continuing searches to find any missing persons.
Born in the heart of the Atlantic, Hurricane Melissa transformed into one of the most powerful phenomena of the century. On Tuesday, it struck Jamaica with sustained winds of 300 km/h, reaching Category 5, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) data.
It is the most violent hurricane to have made landfall on the island in 90 years.
Gedeon Delva
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