“Melissa” — The Century’s Strongest Hurricane Slams Jamaica, Leaves 7 Dead and Forces Mass Evacuations in Cuba
KINGSTON / HAVANA:
The Caribbean has been struck by one of the most powerful storms in a century as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 system, made landfall in Jamaica, leaving behind a trail of devastation, casualties, and widespread fear. At least seven people have been confirmed dead, while the storm now barrels toward Cuba, prompting the mass evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents.
According to international media reports, Hurricane Melissa unleashed winds reaching up to 185 kilometers per hour as it struck Jamaica’s southern coast late Tuesday night. Torrential rains, catastrophic flooding, and widespread power outages have paralyzed the island nation. Emergency services are struggling to reach several cut-off areas as fallen trees, collapsed buildings, and flooded roads block access to communities across the parishes of Kingston, St. Elizabeth, and Manchester.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister declared a national emergency, urging citizens to remain indoors and comply with evacuation and safety orders. “This is one of the strongest and most destructive storms our country has faced in decades,” he said, calling for international assistance and pledging that the government’s top priority is to save lives and restore essential services.
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