Hurricane Melissa is advancing across the Caribbean Sea toward Jamaica and Cuba after reaching Category 5 strength, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson storm scale.
The violent storm has already caused several deaths and missing persons in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Winds reached nearly 260 kilometers per hour, according to the latest weather reports published by regional media.
The Jamaican Meteorological Service forecasts storm surges of up to four meters on the south coast, and authorities have ordered the evacuation of several areas. Kingston International Airport has been closed, as have all seaports.
Of particular concern is the storm's slow movement, as the affected areas could be exposed to extreme conditions for several hours. Forecasters estimate up to a meter of rainfall, with the risk of flash flooding and landslides.
If the hurricane were to hit the region with full force, it could devastate western Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned in an interview with CNN. The storm, currently south of the island, "will likely turn north, which means it could impact our coasts, specifically the western tip of Jamaica," Holness said. "And if that were to happen, and I've said this before, I don't think there's any infrastructure in this region that can withstand a Category 5 storm, so there could be significant disruption."
(Unioneonline)