Tag Archives: meteorological

‘Life-Threatening Damage’: Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall in Cuba After Battering Jamaica

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Hurricane Melissa Strikes Eastern Cuba After Devastating Jamaica as Category 5 Storm

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba early Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, following its destructive path across Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane. The powerful storm slammed ashore near the town of New Hope, leaving widespread damage in its wake.

In Jamaica, homes and businesses were destroyed, with officials reporting catastrophic damage. Evan Thompson, Principal Director at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, issued a grim warning ahead of the storm: “It will cause catastrophic damage, life-threatening damage. There is very little that can stop a category five hurricane.”

Powerful winds and fallen trees have marked the trail of destruction across the island, accompanied by life-threatening flooding. Roads have become impassable as storm surges as high as 13 feet poured in. The parish of St. Elizabeth is reportedly underwater, and over half a million residents are currently without power. Four main hospitals suffered damage, with one losing power entirely, necessitating the evacuation of 75 patients.

In response to the widespread devastation, the Prime Minister of Jamaica has declared the entire island a disaster area.

Personal Stories: Dreams Washed Away by Melissa

Shantelle Nova was preparing for her dream wedding in Jamaica when Hurricane Melissa struck, flooding the venue and forcing the cancellation of her plans. “Windows are broken, a lot of water is coming in, so we’re just basically pushing towels and stuff at the doors,” Nova said. “And the level of noise is ridiculous. Trees have really bent over and flew away, and some of our roof is completely off.”

Severe Flooding in Cuba

In Cuba, severe flooding inundated streets in Santiago de Cuba as the storm brought heavy rains and strong winds prior to making landfall. Forecasters predicted up to 20 inches of rain in some areas, along with significant storm surges along the coast.

Authorities evacuated approximately 500,000 people from areas vulnerable to high winds and flooding as Melissa moved across the Caribbean.

Operation Blessing Mobilizes Disaster Relief Efforts

CBN’s Operation Blessing is actively preparing to assist victims of Hurricane Melissa. The team is packing essential supplies and getting ready to deploy aid to those affected by the storm.

On CBN’s Faith Nation, Diego Traverso, Senior Director for Operation Blessing’s Global Disaster Response Team, shared the challenges they face: “We don’t know how catastrophic this is going to be, if the water is going to recede, if the airports are going to be open and when they’re going to be open. So, at this point, we are just getting ready as close as we can to the island and praying for favor so we can either ride on an airplane, private one or commercial.”

The relief supplies include water, food, solar lamps, hygiene kits, as well as chlorinators and water purification units to provide clean drinking water. Traverso emphasized the critical need for clean water: “Water is going to be critical; the different ways for them to get water is going to get polluted. Pray for the people of Jamaica. Pray for the team of Operation Blessing.”

Operation Blessing is also preparing cargo shipments, which include pallets of food and hygienic items to support displaced families.

Next Steps and Ongoing Response

Hurricane Melissa is forecast to move into the Bahamas later Wednesday. Jamaican officials are hopeful that the island’s airports will reopen by Thursday, facilitating relief efforts and travel. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is prepared to send assistance as needed.

As recovery efforts continue, communities remain vigilant, praying for safety and relief in the storm’s aftermath.

http://www.cbn.com/api/urlredirect.aspx?u=http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2025/october/life-threatening-damage-hurricane-melissa-makes-landfall-in-cuba-after-battering-jamaica

Floods washed away all but tears

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The Monsoon of 2022: Beyond Physical Damage – Addressing the Mental Health Impact of Floods in Pakistan

The monsoon of 2022 brought torrential rains across Pakistan. Although the Meteorological Department had warned about possible flooding, the reality struck sooner than expected. Many areas of the country were submerged, and Sindh was no exception.

At that time, I had just assumed charge as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at my university. The Vice Chancellor called an emergency meeting to discuss how we could contribute to relief efforts for the communities affected by the floods. Teams comprising doctors and paramedics were dispatched to provide first aid, food, medicines, and treatment for medical conditions anticipated in such disasters, including skin and eye infections.

As a mental health professional, I realized that addressing physical health alone would not suffice. Acute panic and deep psychological scars are often part of such calamities. After a brief training on psychological first aid, I sent medical officers, psychiatry trainees, and psychology interns to join our medical teams. This multidisciplinary team worked effectively on-site, but many patients needed ongoing treatment and were referred to hospitals in Hyderabad.

During this time, I met many individuals whose stories left a lasting impact on me. Among them was an elderly, lean man whose quiet tears spoke volumes. He seemed unable to express the many emotions and thoughts crossing his mind. A companion informed me that he had lost the dowry he had painstakingly saved for his daughter’s marriage in the flood. Without uttering a word, his grieving face revealed dreams washed away and a spirit broken by loss.

I also recall a mother who screamed every time she remembered her child drowning, and a farmer who lost his cattle – his entire livelihood swept away. Behind each individual case was a story of human pain and sheer helplessness. The floods not only dismantled homes and damaged crops but also swept away the hopes and peace of countless people.

The challenges did not end there. Within weeks, many who had helped flood victims began suffering from anxiety, sleep disturbances, and trauma themselves. This experience gave my team and me unforgettable insights into managing the multifaceted nature of grief.

Many survivors initially experienced shock; they felt numb and were unable to comprehend the devastation. Those who had helped others lived in intense fear—fear of losing loved ones, possessions, or facing hunger, disease, or another disaster. Overwhelming grief was common among those who lost family members, relatives, homes, and lifelong savings.

As people tried to rebuild their lives amidst instability and insecurity, some struggled with panic, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appeared in some, who relived traumatic events through flashbacks and nightmares. Others battled suicidal thoughts fueled by survivor guilt.

Imagine a white-collar worker, once living with dignity, now standing in a queue for food—his pride shattered and spirit broken.

Children accompanying families of psychiatric patients often showed withdrawn and fearful behavior, reflecting anxiety and confusion about their surroundings. Adults expressed irritability, helplessness, and emotional numbness. The elderly, already fragile, lost their sense of safety and belonging.

These deep psychological scars often linger long after physical damage is repaired.

Recognizing and treating emotional wounds is as vital as addressing physical injuries in disaster response. True recovery goes beyond rebuilding homes and providing food; it means restoring resilience, dignity, self-esteem, and hope.

If psychological wounds are neglected, healing remains incomplete. Fear, grief, despair, and shattered ego can prevent a person from fully recovering despite adequate physical healthcare. Emotional scars erode motivation, disturb sleep, and weaken the body’s resilience.

This reality concerns me deeply, especially since public attention and media coverage tend to focus more on physical health and infrastructure than mental well-being.

The flood of 2022 left us pondering: Can we not learn from such experiences and train ourselves to practically help those in distress? Rather than watching as bystanders—making videos or panicking—we can act with empathy by listening, connecting, and comforting those who have suffered, offering them a ray of hope.

Can our governments also support these distressed people in ways that protect their dignity and self-esteem, enabling them to become more resilient and capable of rebuilding their lives—and perhaps, helping others in turn?

The mental health dimension of disaster relief is not just an add-on; it is central to holistic recovery and the restoration of communities torn apart by tragedy.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1350034-floods-washed-away-all-but-tears

Typhoon 22 Leaves Hachijo Island Devastated with Roofs Torn Off and Roads Blocked

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From early morning on October 9, torrential rain reduced visibility to near zero as wind-driven sheets of rain battered the island. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that more than 120 millimeters of rain fell within an hour, with maximum gusts reaching 54.7 meters per second. Power outages affected approximately 6,480 households across the island.

At Hachijo View Hotel, only emergency lights were functioning before dawn, and the dining area ceiling began leaking heavily. Staff members used buckets and flashlights to contain the water, but it quickly flooded the floor. “This is the worst we’ve ever seen,” one hotel employee said. “The leaks have started in several other areas too.”

Another hotel reported that windows in its restaurant were shattered by strong gusts, while puddles formed throughout the building.

The JMA downgraded the special heavy rain warning for Hachijo Town to a standard heavy rain alert by the afternoon, but severe conditions continued. When residents ventured outside after the storm, they found scenes of devastation.

A ramen shop had its roof torn off and walls destroyed, exposing its frame. “I never imagined the roof would be blown away,” said the shop owner. “I’m lost for words. I was prepared for some damage, but this is overwhelming.”

In one parking lot, a small car was flipped and hurled onto the road by the fierce wind. “Something like a tornado must have passed,” said the owner. “My car was completely overturned. It’s beyond repair.”

A company president described how the walls of his materials yard were blown off and plywood flooring soaked through. “The wood is completely ruined,” he said.

Fallen trees also blocked multiple roads, with several large trunks completely cutting off access. “It’s terrible,” said one long-time resident. “I’ve lived here 80 years and never seen anything like this.”

Streetlights along the sidewalks were also bent out of shape by the wind.

On nearby Aogashima Island, the garage roof of a house was ripped off. “Small stones came flying like machine-gun fire,” one resident recalled. “They shattered two windows—it was terrifying.”

While Typhoon No. 22 left behind significant destruction, meteorologists are now warning that a new storm, Typhoon No. 23, has formed south of Japan. It is expected to approach Okinawa between October 10 and 11 before tracking north toward Honshu over the three-day holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, several hotels on Hachijo Island have suspended operations due to severe damage. Hachijo Park Hotel reported that the roofs of its second-floor dining hall and large bath area were completely torn off. “This is the first time in 55 years of operation we’ve experienced such damage,” a staff member said.

“We want to inform guests with upcoming reservations that we cannot accommodate them, but with both electricity and Wi-Fi down, we have no way to reach them.”
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147218.php

Hokkaido to Set Up Hidden Camera Detectors in Schools

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Typhoon No. 22 has brought severe weather to the Izu Islands, particularly around Hachijo Island, where strong winds and heavy rain continue to impact the region. Although the intensity of the rain and wind has peaked, authorities urge residents to remain cautious due to violent gusts, high waves, and the risk of landslides caused by saturated ground conditions.

While most of the Kanto region, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, has avoided major transportation disruptions, some services along the coasts of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures may still experience delays or interruptions.

As of 9 a.m. on October 9, Typhoon No. 23, named Nakri, was moving quickly northwest over waters south of Japan. It is expected to influence weather conditions during the upcoming three-day holiday weekend. Forecasts predict that the typhoon will strengthen slightly as it approaches the Okinawa and Amami regions between October 10 and 11. Afterward, Nakri is expected to curve northward, moving off the coast of Kyushu on October 12 and reaching waters south of Japan’s main islands by October 13.

In other news, a recent OECD report released on Tuesday reveals that elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan continue to work the longest hours among their peers worldwide. Although the 2024 results show a reduction of about four hours per week compared to the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceed the working hours of educators globally.

Meanwhile, beer deliveries from Asahi Group Holdings have been disrupted following a ransomware cyberattack. This has caused shortages affecting izakaya and other establishments across Japan. Some bars have reported their beer stock dwindling to just a single bottle as supply chain delays ripple through the industry.

Additionally, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7. The tremor registered a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami resulting from this earthquake.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147214.php

Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ to weaken; Mumbai likely to see light rains

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**Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ to Weaken; Mumbai Likely to See Light Rains**

*By Snehil Singh | October 5, 2025, 10:04 AM*

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cyclone alert for Maharashtra as Cyclone “Shakhti” intensifies over the Arabian Sea. Currently located approximately 580 km west of Dwarka and 510 km southwest of Karachi, the storm is moving northwest across the Arabian Sea.

The IMD predicts that from October 6 onwards, Cyclone “Shakhti” will shift its course east-northeast and gradually weaken. Wind speeds are expected to be between 45-55 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 65 km/h.

**Heavy Rainfall Expected Across Maharashtra**

Moderate to high alerts for heavy rainfall have been issued for several districts in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The cyclone is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of East Vidarbha and Marathwada as well. Continuous downpours may lead to flooding and waterlogging in affected areas.

**Preparedness Measures in Place**

In response to the cyclone warning, the Maharashtra government has activated its disaster management systems. Local authorities have been directed to prepare evacuation plans and ensure that shelters, medical facilities, and emergency response teams are ready to act if necessary. Residents are advised to stay indoors during heavy rainfall and keep updated with official advisories for their safety.

**Warnings for Fishermen and Coastal Areas**

Fishermen have been strongly advised against venturing into the sea as Cyclone “Shakhti” approaches. The storm is expected to impact the coastal areas of Gujarat and northern Maharashtra until Sunday. However, current forecasts suggest that the cyclone may remain over the sea without making landfall.

**Weather Update for Delhi**

Meanwhile, Delhi is likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by rain from Sunday through October 7. Temperatures during this period are expected to range between 24°C and 32°C.

**West Bengal on High Alert**

Sub-Himalayan West Bengal is also under high alert due to a well-marked low-pressure area causing heavy to very heavy rainfall until Monday morning. The IMD has issued a red warning for the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar. Light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places in these districts through Monday morning.

Residents across the affected regions are urged to remain vigilant and follow weather updates closely.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/cyclone-shakhti-to-weaken-mumbai-likely-to-see-light-rains/story

Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ to weaken; Mumbai likely to see light rains

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**Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ to Weaken; Mumbai Likely to See Light Rains**
*By Snehil Singh | October 5, 2025, 10:04 AM*

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cyclone alert for Maharashtra as Cyclone “Shakhti” intensifies over the Arabian Sea. Currently, the storm is situated approximately 580 km west of Dwarka and 510 km southwest of Karachi, moving northwest over the Arabian Sea.

The IMD forecasts that from October 6, Cyclone “Shakhti” will change its course towards the east-northeast and gradually weaken. Wind speeds are expected to range between 45-55 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 65 km/h.

### Rainfall Forecast

Heavy rainfall is expected across several districts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. Additionally, parts of East Vidarbha and Marathwada are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Continuous downpours may lead to flooding and waterlogging in these areas.

### Preparedness Measures

In response to the cyclone warning, the Maharashtra government has activated disaster management systems. Local authorities have been instructed to prepare evacuation plans and keep shelters, medical facilities, and emergency response teams ready. Residents are advised to stay indoors during heavy rains and follow official updates for safety.

### Other Affected Regions

Fishermen along the coastal areas of Gujarat and north Maharashtra have been warned not to venture into the sea as Cyclone “Shakhti” approaches. Although the cyclone is expected to affect these coastal regions until Sunday, it is likely to remain at sea without making landfall.

Meanwhile, Delhi is forecasted to experience thunderstorms with rain from Sunday until October 7. Temperatures in the capital will range between 24°C and 32°C during this period.

### West Bengal Alert

Sub-Himalayan West Bengal is also on high alert due to a well-marked low-pressure area causing heavy to very heavy rainfall till Monday morning. The IMD has issued a red warning for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar districts. Light to moderate rainfall is expected across most places in these districts until Monday morning.

Stay tuned for further updates and stay safe.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/cyclone-shakhti-to-weaken-mumbai-likely-to-see-light-rains/story

Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ to weaken; Mumbai likely to see light rains

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**Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ to Weaken; Mumbai Likely to See Light Rains**
*By Snehil Singh | October 5, 2025, 10:04 AM*

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cyclone alert for Maharashtra as Cyclone “Shakhti” intensifies over the Arabian Sea. Currently, the storm is situated approximately 580 km west of Dwarka and 510 km southwest of Karachi, moving toward the northwest Arabian Sea.

The IMD forecasts that Cyclone “Shakhti” will change its course toward the east-northeast starting October 6 and gradually weaken. Wind speeds are expected to range between 45-55 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 65 km/h.

**Rainfall Forecast**

Heavy rainfall is anticipated across several districts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The cyclone is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of East Vidarbha and Marathwada, leading to potential flooding and waterlogging due to continuous downpours.

**Preparedness Measures**

In response to the cyclone alert, the Maharashtra government has activated its disaster management systems. Local administrations have been instructed to prepare evacuation plans and ensure that shelters, medical facilities, and emergency response teams are ready.

Residents are advised to stay indoors during periods of heavy rain and to follow official updates closely for safety precautions.

**Other Affected Regions**

Fishermen along the coasts have been warned against venturing into the sea as Cyclone “Shakhti” approaches. The storm is expected to affect the coastal areas of Gujarat and northern Maharashtra until Sunday. However, forecasts suggest it may remain over the sea without making landfall.

In Delhi, thunderstorms accompanied by rain are likely from Sunday through October 7. Temperatures in the capital are expected to range between 24°C and 32°C during this period.

**West Bengal Alert**

Meanwhile, sub-Himalayan West Bengal remains on high alert due to a well-marked low-pressure area causing heavy to very heavy rainfall until Monday morning. The IMD has issued a red warning for the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar.

Light to moderate rainfall is expected across most areas within these districts until Monday morning.

Stay tuned for further updates on Cyclone “Shakhti” and its impact.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/cyclone-shakhti-to-weaken-mumbai-likely-to-see-light-rains/story