Melissa is hitting Jamaica at breakneck speed
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Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica around 1 p.m. Tuesday, bringing catastrophic winds of up to 295 km/h. It is one of the most intense hurricanes to ever strike the island.
Authorities have confirmed that at least three people have died in Jamaica, adding to three fatalities reported in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic.
Officials warn that the death toll could rise as rescue teams reach isolated areas.
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) estimates that up to 1.5 million people could be affected by the storm - including families still recovering from Hurricane Beryl earlier this year.
Entire neighborhoods are flooded, homes have been destroyed, and large sections of the island remain without power.
Jamaica faces one of the worst hurricanes in its history
Necephor Mghendi, head of the IFRC delegation for the Caribbean, said that «families already struggling after Beryl are now facing extremely difficult humanitarian conditions.»
Emergency response teams are on the ground, but flooding and debris are slowing down rescue efforts.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged citizens to remain in shelters as strong winds and heavy rains continue. Hospitals are operating at full capacity, and emergency shelters are overflowing with evacuees.
Landslides have been reported in the northern regions, and forecasters warn that persistent rainfall could trigger additional flooding in the coming hours.
Melissa is now tracking north toward Cuba and the Bahamas, though meteorologists say the system will likely remain powerful for several days. For Jamaica, the priority now is rescue and recovery after a direct hit that has left widespread devastation.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 28 | 10 ANSWERS Melissa is hitting Jamaica at breakneck speed Do you think Jamaica was prepared for the strength of Hurricane Melissa? | ||
| Yes | 0 | 0 % |
| No | 6 | 60 % |
| Partially | 4 | 40 % |
| List of polls | ||
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