Hurricane Melissa , the first Category 5 storm to make landfall in the Atlantic basin in six years and the most powerful in Jamaica’s recorded history, has left a trail of “heartbreaking” destruction with estimated total damage and economic loss ranging from $48 billion to $52 billion, according to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather.

The record-shattering storm, which battered Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, is expected to have a significant and lasting impact on the region’s economy and its residents. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter warned that a full recovery for the Caribbean could take a decade or longer.

Massive Economic and Human Toll

The catastrophic damage estimate considers more than just insured losses, factoring in long-term disruptions

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