Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 Storm with Catastrophic Winds

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, bringing winds of up to 185 mph. Officials warn of severe damage and urge residents to seek shelter.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, intensified on Tuesday before hitting Jamaica. Officials and residents prepared for severe winds, flash floods, and landslides. Streets in Kingston were mostly deserted as the hurricane approached with winds of 185 mph (295 kph). Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica's Disaster Risk Management Council, urged residents to seek shelter and stay indoors.

The Jamaican government has taken all possible measures to prepare for the hurricane, which is the strongest to hit the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago. Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated, "There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5." He emphasised that the main challenge now is the speed of recovery.

Jamaica Prepares for Aftermath

Landslides, fallen trees, and power outages were reported as Melissa approached. The storm is expected to move diagonally across Jamaica and head towards Cuba. On Tuesday morning, Melissa was located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Negril, Jamaica. It had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 9 mph (15 kph).

A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) is anticipated across southern Jamaica. Health Minister Christopher Tufton mentioned that some patients were relocated to higher floors in hospitals along the coastline to prepare for potential flooding.

Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps adviser near Kingston, noted that most families are sheltering in place despite evacuation orders in flood-prone areas. "Many have never experienced anything like this before," he said. "There is profound fear of losing homes and livelihoods."

Impact on Infrastructure

The storm has already caused seven deaths in the Caribbean: three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Necephor Mghendi from the International Red Cross estimated that 1.5 million people will be affected by the storm.

More than 240,000 customers lost power before landfall, and about a quarter of the telecommunications system was offline. Transport and Energy Minister Darryl Vaz said crews would clean and test the island's two main airports on Wednesday to prepare for emergency relief flights.

UN agencies and nonprofits have positioned food, medicine, and other supplies for distribution after the storm. Matthew Samuda, Jamaica's water and environment minister, advised people to conserve water as more than 50 generators are ready for deployment post-storm.

Melissa Takes Aim at Cuba

Melissa was expected to reach eastern Cuba late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain were forecasted along with a significant coastal storm surge. Authorities in Holguín province prepared to evacuate over 200,000 people on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez described the hurricane as "very dangerous" from Banes, where evacuations were underway. Reports showed buses transporting evacuees to shelters as families carried babies and belongings.

The hurricane also affected southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic with heavy rain. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Haiti as Melissa is expected to turn northeast towards the southeast Bahamas by Wednesday evening.

With inputs from PTI