SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.N. officials said Thursday that Hurricane Melissa flung nearly 5 million tons of debris across western Jamaica last week and warned it is preventing crews from delivering aid and restoring critical services quickly.
The amount of debris would fill some 480,000 standard truckloads, according to the United Nations Development Program.
“We need to act fast because delay means blocked roads, vital services at a standstill, lost income and increased suffering,” said Kishan Khoday, the agency's representative in Jamaica.
Local government officials said Thursday that the storm ripped the roofs off 120,000 structures when it struck last week, affecting some 90,000 families in the island’s western region.
More than 180 shelters remain open, with 2,487 people living in them more than a week after the Category 5 storm made landfall, according to Alvin Gayle, director general of Jamaica’s emergency management office.
Crews are still clearing roads in an attempt to reach 27 communities that remain cut off by landslides and flooding.
“I hear the cry of every baby that is now hungry in a community that is not yet reached. It goes to bed with me,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Roughly half the island remains without power, although officials have set up generators and Wi-Fi hubs in certain communities.
“We are making progress every day in restoring power, telecommunications, water, clearing roads and delivering aid,” Gayle said. “We understand these have been some challenging times.”
Melissa was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, with Holness noting that the storm caused at least $6 billion in damage, according to preliminary estimates.
Melissa killed at least 32 people in Jamaica and another 43 in nearby Haiti, where 13 others remain missing.
It also damaged structures in eastern Cuba, where authorities evacuated thousands before the storm made landfall last week.
“This Category five hurricane has left a trail of extensive damage, impacting nearly six million people,” said Jorge Moreira da Silva, the U.N.’s under-secretary-general whose Office for Project Services is helping Jamaica with relief and recovery operations. “Specifically in Jamaica, the hurricane has destroyed homes and vital infrastructure amounting to nearly one third of the nation’s GDP from last year.”
Holness said that Melissa affected some 600,000 people in Jamaica, and that relief operations will be ongoing for several months.
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
FILE - Residents walk through Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
FILE - People gather among debris near a bridge in Black River, Jamaica, Oct. 30, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Ta'Niya Latson scored a season-high 32 points and Joyce Edwards 25 as No. 3 South Carolina rolled past North Carolina Central 106-42 on Sunday, despite missing ill starter Tessa Johnson and losing Madina Okot to injury in the first half.
Johnson had 20 points to lead the Gamecocks (9-1) to a 79-77 victory at Louisville this past Thursday, but came down with an illness and was held out. Okot, the 6-foot-6 Mississippi State transfer averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds, came off the floor midway through the second quarter and did not return.
Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said afterwards that Okot was feeling sick. “It's going around,” she said.
The absences had South Carolina off balance early on and kept the Eagles (1-8) hanging around longer than some in the crowd expected.
North Carolina Central hit three of its first four shots to lead 7-4 before South Carolina got going behind Edwards to close the first quarter with a 22-7 run. Edwards had had two three-point plays and 12 points during that stretch as the Gamecocks outscored North Carolina Central 22-10 in the paint to take control.
The Gamecocks came out with some fire after the break on both sides of the ball. Latson hit a pair of 3-pointers as South Carolina opened with a 25-0 run. The Eagles missed their first 12 shots of the period and ended up getting outscored 28-2.
Tierney Coleman led North Carolina Central with 14 points.
South Carolina's defense forced 36 turnovers and had 10 blocks against the Eagles.
South Carolina's Okot came in leading the country with seven double-doubles. She was not on the bench when the team returned in the second half, coming out of the locker room midway through the third quarter. Okot finished with 10 points and a rebound shy of another double-double in 11 first-half minutes.
South Carolina's roster had just 10 players after expected post players Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts were lost for the season with injuries. While the attrition has continued in the season's opening month, Staley blocks it out as best she can.
Staley concentrates on who is available to play. “We got eight (players) today. I only see eight. We got reduced to seven, I only see seven,” she said. “We're just going to play the hand that we're dealt to the best of our ability.”
North Carolina Central goes to High Point on Dec. 14.
South Carolina hosts Penn State on Dec. 14.
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
South Carolina center Madina Okot, left, pulls down an offensive rebound against North Carolina Central forward Dianna Blake during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
South Carolina guard Ayla McDowell (24) looks to shoot against North Carolina Central guard Shakiria Foster (10) and forward Dianna Blake during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against North Carolina Central forward Dianna Blake during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) drives to the basket against North Carolina Central forward Aniya Finger (24), guard Tierney Coleman (4) and forward Dianna Blake (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson (00) drives against North Carolina Central guard Najah Lane during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
