Catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa leaves seven dead

Zuko Komisa

Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, with 282 kph winds, is set to be the most powerful storm to ever hit Jamaica, prompting mass evacuations.
The storm threatens catastrophic flooding, landslides, and a life-threatening storm surge across Jamaica and Hispaniola.
The regional death toll stands at a minimum of seven people across Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, is rapidly approaching Jamaica and is anticipated to make landfall early on Tuesday.

The record-breaking system, boasting sustained winds of up to 282 kilometres per hour (kph), is set to become the most powerful storm ever to hit the island, surpassing the intensity of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.

Jamaican officials have issued urgent evacuation orders ahead of the storm’s arrival.

Melissa is forecast to unleash a devastating combination of hazards, including catastrophic flash flooding, widespread landslides, a life-threatening storm surge, and highly damaging waves.

Authorities have warned citizens to prepare for unprecedented rainfall, extensive infrastructural damage, prolonged power and communication outages, and potentially isolated communities.

Tragically, Hurricane Melissa has already claimed a death toll of at least seven people across the region, encompassing Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, with one person also reported missing.