A dangerous hurricane nearing Jamaica and Cuba has strengthened and may escalate to Category 5 — the highest classification — before it hits the area either tonight or early Tuesday, as per forecasts. The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has warned that hurricane Melissa is likely to cause severe flooding, landslides, and storm surges. Jamaican authorities are urging residents to evacuate to the 900 shelters set up across the island.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued mandatory evacuation orders for Port Royal in Kingston and six other regions. With sustained winds reaching up to 140mph (220kph), Storm Melissa is anticipated to intensify further as it nears Jamaica.
Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, expressed concerns about the potential impact, stating, “Many of these communities are at risk from flooding. Kingston’s low-lying nature leaves no part of the city immune to such disasters.” Both international airports are currently shut down.
The slow-moving storm has resulted in at least three fatalities in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, with another person reported missing. The NHC has forecasted rainfall amounts of 38cm (15 inches) to 76cm (30 inches) for Jamaica and southern Hispaniola, with localized totals potentially exceeding one meter (40 inches).
Eastern Cuba is expected to receive between 25cm (10 inches) and 38cm (15 inches) of rainfall, with localized amounts possibly reaching up to 51cm (20 inches). Officials are cautioning about extensive damage to infrastructure, power outages, communication disruptions, and isolation of various communities in Jamaica.
Jamaica’s Information Minister, Dana Morris Dixon, mentioned the readiness of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to provide aid, with international partners already offering support. She emphasized the unprecedented levels of rainfall expected from the storm.
AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, Alex DaSilva, highlighted the impending threat posed by Melissa, urging residents of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Jamaica to prepare for heavy rainfall, flash floods, power failures, and road damages. The potential impacts could be severe and catastrophic.
For quick access to valued news, select Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.