Melissa, one of the strongest storms on record to make landfall in the Caribbean, began to dissipate on Friday after sowing devastation across much of Jamaica, cutting off communities in Cuba, drenching Haiti and leaving at least 50 dead.

Melissa is a 'catastrophic' storm, the strongest possible on the Saffir-Simpson scale, according to the US National Hurricane Center. In Haiti, impoverished by years of gang violence, more than 3,650 residents in southern parts of the country moved into temporary shelters.

Prince, already facing the challenges of displacement, were burdened further Wednesday after Hurricane Melissa brought heavy rains which flooded makeshift tents and homes.