Heartbreaking aerial footage shows the devastation left by Melissa in Jamaica

The video, shared on social media by Volcanoholic, offers a sobering view from above - showing entire neighborhoods flattened, roads torn apart, and coastal areas submerged under floodwaters.

The 12-minute video, filmed from a helicopter, captures scenes of chaos and ruin as emergency crews navigate debris-strewn streets.

The caption reads: «The aerial shots of St. Elizabeth are heartbreaking.»

From the air, the magnitude of the damage is staggering - roofs ripped off, homes reduced to rubble, and cars swept away by violent winds and surging waters.

Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, brought winds of up to 185 mph (295 km/h) and torrential rains that triggered widespread flooding.

St. Elizabeth, located on the island's southern coast, bore the brunt of the hurricane's fury, with reports indicating that hundreds of homes were destroyed or severely damaged.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness surveyed the destruction by helicopter, later describing what he saw as «total devastation.»

The government has since declared the entire island a national disaster zone, while emergency shelters have been set up to house displaced families.

Both of Jamaica's main international airports - Sangster in Montego Bay and Norman Manley in Kingston - remain closed as officials assess structural damage.

Power outages continue across several parishes, and communications have been heavily disrupted.

Preliminary estimates suggest billions of Jamaican dollars in losses, with the hardest-hit areas requiring weeks, if not months, to recover.

Relief efforts are underway, with support from the Jamaican Defence Force, the Red Cross, and international partners.

Despite the heartbreaking destruction, many have praised the resilience and solidarity of Jamaicans in the face of tragedy.

Across social media, people have shared messages of hope and unity under the hashtag #JamaicaStrong, determined to rebuild stronger than before.