Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 storm and is approaching Jamaica, posing a significant threat of severe flooding, landslides, and extensive damage. This would mark the most powerful hurricane to hit the island since records began in 1851. The storm has already caused seven fatalities in the northern Caribbean and is projected to reach Jamaica early Tuesday before moving on to Cuba and then the Bahamas, with no impact expected on the United States.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed concern over the impending hardships, emphasizing the need for preparedness and urging citizens to adhere to evacuation orders. As of Monday night, Hurricane Melissa was positioned approximately 245 kilometers southwest of Kingston and 535 kilometers southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba. It boasted sustained winds of 280 kilometers per hour, moving at a slow pace west-northwest.
The US National Hurricane Center in Miami highlighted the potential for up to 76 centimeters of rain in eastern Jamaica and 40 centimeters in western Haiti, leading to the risk of catastrophic flash floods and numerous landslides. Residents were strongly advised to remain in safe shelters and avoid venturing outside to ensure their safety.
In anticipation of a storm surge reaching up to four meters along coastal Kingston, mandatory evacuations were implemented in vulnerable areas, with authorities transporting individuals to secure locations. Jamaican officials expressed concerns over low shelter occupancy, as fewer than 1,000 people sought refuge in the available 130 shelters across the island, well below the necessary capacity for a Category 5 hurricane.
Tragically, Hurricane Melissa has claimed lives in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, with additional casualties feared as the storm progresses. The slow-moving nature of the hurricane poses challenges for cleanup and assessment efforts due to expected landslides, flooding, and blocked roads. The storm’s impact has already been felt in the Dominican Republic, where heavy rainfall led to widespread damage and displacement of thousands of individuals.
Haiti, in particular, faces agricultural devastation and food insecurity as Melissa continues to unleash torrential rain over the region. The storm’s effects are expected to persist in southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic in the coming days, exacerbating existing challenges in these vulnerable areas.