Hurricane Melissa remains an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm as it moves north toward eastern Cuba after a historic Jamaica landfall—among the strongest ever in the Atlantic. At least seven deaths are linked to the storm: three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
Jamaica has been declared a disaster area, with over 500,000 power outages and extensive damage to homes, hospitals, and schools. In Cuba, more than 735,000 people have evacuated ahead of expected 120-mph winds, up to 25 inches of rain, and 12-foot storm surges. Haiti and the Dominican Republic report flooding and fatalities. The U.S. has pledged assistance to Jamaica. Authorities warn of life-threatening flooding, landslides, and extended outages. Residents are urged to follow evacuation orders and use official relief channels.
