St. Elizabeth Parish, southwestern Jamaica, is the first to be struck by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. Winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) are tearing through the area, causing severe flooding and destruction.

 

Flooding inland in the mountains in Santa Cruz, Jamaica 😳pic.twitter.com/nlf3BthFL9

— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) October 28, 2025

The post documents flash flooding from Hurricane Melissa, a rare Category 5 storm that made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, with sustained winds of 160 mph and gusts to 185 mph, marking the island's most powerful hurricane on record.

Video footage reveals muddy torrents surging through Santa Cruz's inland mountain roads, submerging vehicles and eroding structures, driven by 20-30 inches of rainfall that amplifies landslide risks in steep terrains.

Inland mountainous areas like St. Elizabeth parish face underestimated threats from such storms, as heavy precipitation causes rapid runoff; historical data shows Jamaica's 2024 floods displaced 10,000, signaling escalating climate-driven vulnerabilities.