Jamaica’s strongest ever hurricane Melissa strikes Cuba

Hurricane Melissa, the strongest hurricane in Jamaica’s history, has reached Cuba, hitting the country with Category 4 storm-force winds.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that winds in Jamaica reached up to 295 km/h, flooding the southwestern parts of the island and leaving over half a million people without electricity, per Reuters.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated that significant damage has been inflicted on homes, hospitals, and infrastructure. Preliminary reports indicate at least three fatalities.

Meteorologists note that Melissa is the third-strongest hurricane in Caribbean history, after Wilma (2005) and Gilbert (1988). Experts have described it as a “storm of the century” for Jamaica, linking the increasing intensity of hurricanes to ocean warming.

Around 15,000 Jamaicans were said to be in temporary shelters by late October 28. The government had issued mandatory evacuation orders for 28,000 people, but many were reluctant to leave their homes.

The International Federation of the Red Cross said up to 1.5 million people in Jamaica were expected to be directly affected by the storm.

By Khagan Isayev