Three people in Jamaica have died as Hurricane Melissa, now packing maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, bears down on the island and moves towards Cuba, authorities said on Tuesday.
According to Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, two of the deaths occurred while workers were cutting trees in preparation for the hurricane, and a third person was electrocuted. At least 13 others were injured during storm-readiness efforts.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Melissa remains an “extremely dangerous” Category 5 storm, with a central pressure of 892 millibars — among the lowest ever recorded in the Atlantic. The hurricane was moving north-northeast at about 8 mph and is expected to pass over or near Jamaica late Tuesday before heading towards eastern Cuba.
Meteorologists warned of life-threatening conditions across southern and coastal parishes, including a storm surge of 9 to 13 feet, rainfall totals of up to 40 inches, and widespread flash flooding and landslides. Authorities said power outages and structural damage are likely across the island.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged residents to take all warnings seriously and seek shelter immediately. “We are asking every Jamaican to move to safety now,” he said in a televised address.
More than 650 emergency shelters have been opened across the country, and all flights at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay were suspended. Public transport was halted in several parishes as the government ordered evacuations in flood-prone areas.
The World Meteorological Organization described Melissa as potentially the most powerful hurricane to strike Jamaica this century. After crossing the island, forecasters expect the storm to continue northwards towards Cuba and the Cayman Islands, bringing destructive winds and flooding to those areas by Wednesday.
At press time, outer rainbands were already affecting Jamaica’s southern coast, with reports of rising water levels and downed trees. Officials warned that rescue operations would be suspended once winds reach unsafe levels.
Regional Alerts and Evacuations
Cuban authorities have issued hurricane warnings for the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Holguín, where Melissa is expected to bring hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall by early Wednesday. The Cuban Civil Defence Agency has begun evacuating coastal residents and relocating vulnerable populations inland.
In the Cayman Islands, the National Emergency Operations Centre activated its highest alert level, advising residents to complete preparations and remain indoors as outer rainbands from Melissa are forecast to affect the islands later Tuesday night. Airports across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac have suspended operations until further notice.
Regional forecasters have urged residents across the western Caribbean to monitor updates closely, as Melissa’s path could continue to threaten other islands as it moves through the region this week.
