Jamaica is bracing for “catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding” as Hurricane Melissa, now a Category Five storm, tears through the Caribbean with winds reaching up to 175 mph (290 km/h).
The US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued the grim warning early Monday, describing the storm as potentially the strongest hurricane ever to hit the island nation.
Melissa is expected to dump between 15 and 30 inches of rain across Jamaica, with forecasters warning that some areas could receive as much as 40 inches (101 cm). The torrential downpour is likely to trigger widespread landslides, power outages, and severe flooding that could isolate several communities.
Storm surges reaching up to 13 feet above ground level are forecast along Jamaica’s southern coastline, while southeastern Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and parts of the Bahamas are also under threat from rising waters and destructive winds.
“The scale of rainfall and wind intensity associated with Melissa is unprecedented,” the NHC said, warning that “numerous landslides and extensive flooding are expected across mountainous and low-lying areas.”
At least three people have been confirmed dead in Jamaica, while four fatalities have been reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as the hurricane continues its deadly path across the region.
Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas are already experiencing strong winds and heavy rainfall, with emergency services on high alert as the storm advances.
Experts fear that if Melissa maintains its current intensity, it could cause devastation comparable to some of the most destructive hurricanes in Caribbean history.
Authorities in Jamaica have urged residents to move to higher ground and comply with evacuation orders as emergency shelters fill up across the island. “This is a dangerous storm. We urge everyone to stay indoors, stay safe, and follow official instructions,” Jamaica’s disaster management agency said in a statement.
