India, Oct. 29 -- Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon as a powerful Category 5 storm. It unleashed catastrophic winds, torrential rain, and storm surges that caused extensive damage to homes, schools, and hospitals across the region.

Videos emerging from Jamaica show flooded streets, collapsed buildings, and hospital roofs torn off as Melissa's winds ripped through coastal and inland communities.

Speaking with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the scale of destruction was "significant."

"Reports that we have had so far would include damage to hospitals, significant damage to residential property, housing and commercial property as well," he said.

The parish of St. Elizab...