Damage and losses from Hurricane Melissa could climb to as much as $15 billion, the United Nations said, nearly 50 days after the storm tore through Jamaica.

Assessments are still ongoing, but the human toll has been heavy. Reports indicate that at least 45 people were killed by the hurricane, while more than 600,000 others were affected.

Hundreds of residents remain in shelters, unable to return to their homes as recovery efforts continue.

“The physical devastation has been extensive nationwide, with at least 120,000 buildings, mainly in southwestern Jamaica, losing their roofs and leaving entire communities exposed,” said Dennis Zulu, the UN Resident Coordinator for Jamaica and several other Caribbean territories.

He added that the storm caused prolonged disruptions to essential services, with most parishes left without electricity for weeks, compounding the hardship for affected families and slowing recovery across the island.