KINGSTON, JAMAICA
Jamaica is on high alert as Hurricane Melissa, now classified as a Category 5 storm, approaches the island with record-breaking strength, bringing fears of catastrophic damage and widespread flooding.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Melissa is packing sustained winds of up to 175 miles per hour (282 km/h) and is expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning near St. Elizabeth Parish, moving slowly across the island toward St. Ann Parish in the north.
The storm’s sluggish movement advancing at just 3 to 8 km/h—raises the risk of prolonged exposure to high winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating storm surges. Meteorologists warn of rainfall exceeding 400 millimeters in several areas, with some mountainous regions expected to receive up to 1,000 millimeters, triggering landslides and flash floods.
Government officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for coastal communities and low-lying areas, with over 800 emergency shelters opened nationwide. However, reports indicate that only a limited number of residents have sought refuge so far.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged citizens to take the warnings seriously, describing Melissa as a storm “unlike any Jamaica has ever faced.” He emphasized that no infrastructure in the region is built to withstand such extreme winds.
Early reports from southern Jamaica indicate power outages, downed trees, and coastal flooding, even before the hurricane’s core reaches the island. The storm has already caused seven deaths across the Caribbean three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
International aid agencies and neighboring countries are preparing to assist Jamaica in recovery efforts once the storm passes. Experts have described Melissa as a defining climate event, with potential to reshape the island’s coastal landscape and infrastructure resilience policies.
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