The Latin American Report # 623

Melissa

We are just now learning the first, and obviously sad and worrying, assessments of the damages caused by Hurricane Melissa, which exited this morning off the northeastern coast of Cuba on its course towards the central Bahamas, considerably diminished in intensity. In Haiti, although the country did not suffer its direct onslaught, 25 deaths are reported after a river overflowed its banks and flooded the nearby residential area. It is not clear if this figure includes the three that had been reported until yesterday, or if it is a new count.

In Jamaica, they still speak of three deaths, and one more in the Dominican Republic, where there is also one missing person. The damage assessment in Jamaica, as warned, will be slow—access has not yet been possible to areas like West Moreland, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, and St. James—but many images have circulated showing the considerable infrastructure damage suffered there. The authorities reported that 3 out of 4 customers lost electrical service, although fortunately the water distribution systems were not heavily affected. "It's not going to be an easy road, Jamaica," said the deputy chairman of the country's Disaster Risk Management Council, who also indicated that affected people have the right to remain in the enabled shelters until some long-term solution can be achieved in this regard.

FIRST LOOK: FOX Weather's @RobertRayWx and crew are on the ground in Discovery Bay, Jamaica, with the first light of the day revealing the devastation from Hurricane Melissa. pic.twitter.com/RQ6ESK0gvI

— FOX Weather (@foxweather) October 29, 2025

Drone footage shows widespread flood damage and debris across Santa Cruz, Jamaica, as cleanup begins after Hurricane Melissa. pic.twitter.com/adtci1atAy

— AccuWeather (@accuweather) October 29, 2025

In Cuba, an inhabitant of the southeastern province of Santiago de Cuba told AP that "[the passage of Melissa] was hell". "All night long, it was terrible," he added, although fortunately for us, the hurricane did not enter with as much force as that suffered by our Jamaican brothers. In my municipality of Sagua de Tánamo, in Holguín province, the river is completely out of its banks, with many homes and other infrastructures partially or completely covered by its waters. I am very concerned, then, generally for the entire affected eastern region, about the damage to the electricity transmission networks, and also how the situation left by Melissa could contribute to worsening the tense health situation with arboviruses and other complex ailments. I will be very attentive to all verified information that emerges on this and other related topics.

This is in my birthplace 👇. My relatives there are safe 🙏.

Las imágenes de Sagua de Tánamo son escalofriantes. Miren la altura a la que ha llegado el agua. Los vecinos me han compartido estos videos hace solo minutos #Melissa #Cuba pic.twitter.com/D8AWjxqawZ

— Mario J. Pentón (@MarioJPenton) October 29, 2025

Brazil

In yesterday's report, I commented on the extraordinary deployment of the Brazilian police in two favelas of Rio de Janeiro, targeting the gang known as the Red Command. At that first moment, an AP reporter had counted ten dead, including two security force agents, although there was talk of "scores" of victims. Well, right now that figure is set at 64 dead, 60 among the suspected gang members and 4 policemen. That is, it was, plain and simple, a slaughter, that has scandalized many activists and civil society organizations.

The raid would have been authorized by the Government of Rio de Janeiro, led by a pro-Bolsonaro politician who reproaches the Palácio do Planalto for the solitude with which they supposedly must confront organized crime. Still on Wednesday morning, according to AP, 50 corpses lay in one of the favelas raided by the authorities, and it is not clear if they are already counted in the referred figure of 60 deaths among the gang members. "Many were found in a wooded ridge near the urban community," it is said.

"We saw executed people: shot in the back, shots to the head, stab wounds, people tied up. This level of brutality, the hatred spread - there´s no other way to describe it except as a massacre," said a local activist. "In about thirty days, organized crime will already be reorganized in the territory, doing what it always does: selling drugs, stealing cargo, collecting payments and fees," said another activist, referring to the lack of long-term results that have historically characterized these deadly raids in favelas full of people marginalized from the sociopolitical systems.

BREAKING

The UNGA supported once again the Cuban government in its fight against the sanctions regime applied by the United States 👇. I will elaborate on the matter tomorrow.

This is all for today’s report.