Deadly Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba and crossed through the Bahamas on Wednesday while authorities in Jamaica began surveying the extensive damage left in its wake.

Ferocious winds and torrential rain hit Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record.

Serious damage and total devastation - that's how Jamaica's PM Andrew Holness has described the south east and south west of the island after taking an aerial tour.