Hurricane Melissa heads for Jamaica after reaching catastrophic Category 5

The Caribbean is facing its most powerful hurricane in decades as Melissa intensifies to Category 5 and approaches Jamaica.

Meteorologists warn of catastrophic winds and torrential rain, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

On Monday, October 27, Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with winds nearing 280 km/h as it moved toward Jamaica. The U.S. National Hurricane Centre described the storm as “catastrophic.”

Its radius already exceeds the island’s length, and rainfall is expected to reach up to 90 centimetres. The hurricane is forecast to pass over Jamaica on Monday night before moving toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas.

A mandatory evacuation has been declared in Jamaica’s coastal areas, including the historic Port Royal. The country’s prime minister appealed to the international community for support, warning of potential destruction of infrastructure — including bridges, ports, airports, and roads.

Authorities said buses are ready to evacuate more than 28,000 people, though some residents are refusing to leave their homes out of fear of looting.

Hours later, Prime Minister Andrew Holness reiterated his call for foreign aid, warning that “no infrastructure in the region can withstand a Category 5.”

He said the government had allocated $33 million for emergency response and expanded insurance coverage beyond what was provided after last year’s Hurricane Beryl.

By Jeyhun Aghazada