SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba — Hurricane Melissa has resulted in at least 25 fatalities in Haiti and extensive destruction across Jamaica and Cuba. The storm made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reaching 185 mph (295 kph), one of the strongest hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic. In Haiti, flooding from the La Digue River led to the deaths of 25 people in the coastal town of Petit-Goâve, according to Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème. He reported that many homes collapsed and residents remained trapped under debris. “I am overwhelmed by the situation,” he said, urging the government for assistance in rescue efforts. Only one official from Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency was present in the area, complicating evacuation efforts amid rising floodwaters. Jamaica faced significant challenges as well, with over 25,000 people seeking refuge in shelters after the storm damaged homes and left many without roofs. “It’s not going to be an easy road, Jamaica,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council. He noted that 77% of the island was without power on Wednesday. At least one death was reported in Jamaica when a tree fell on a baby. The storm caused severe damage in the southwestern and northwestern regions of the island. In Cuba, the storm continued to wreak havoc, with reports of collapsed houses and blocked roads. Approximately 735,000 people were in shelters in eastern Cuba as of Wednesday. “That was hell. All night long, it was terrible,” said Reinaldo Charon, a resident of Santiago de Cuba. Parts of Granma province, particularly the municipal capital of Jiguaní, experienced severe flooding, with over 15 inches (40 centimeters) of rain reported. Governor Yanetsy Terry Gutiérrez confirmed that many areas were underwater. As of Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Melissa had weakened to a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph) and was moving northeast at 14 mph (22 kph). The storm was located about 150 miles (245 kilometers) south of the central Bahamas and was expected to continue weakening as it moved across the region. U.S. forecasters warned of life-threatening flooding and potential landslides, predicting a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) and up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain in parts of eastern Cuba. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the nation, acknowledging the extensive damage and urging citizens not to underestimate the storm's impact. “There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage,” he said. In Jamaica, officials faced difficulties assessing the damage due to power outages and communication blackouts. Richard Thompson, acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, noted the challenges in gathering information. The government plans to reopen all airports in Jamaica by Thursday to facilitate the distribution of emergency supplies. The U.S. government is deploying disaster response teams and search and rescue personnel to assist in recovery efforts. Non-emergency personnel and family members of U.S. government employees in Jamaica have been authorized to leave due to the storm's impact. As the storm continues to move through the Caribbean, residents in Haiti and the Turks and Caicos are bracing for its effects. ___ Rodríguez reported from Havana, Myers from Santa Cruz, Jamaica, and Coto from San Juan, Puerto Rico.