A monstrous Category Five hurricane, Melissa, is crawling toward Jamaica, unleashing fears of catastrophic damage across the island nation. Packing winds of up to 165 mph (270 km/h), the storm has already claimed four lives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and meteorologists warn it could become the strongest hurricane ever to strike Jamaica.
Melissa’s slow speed — just 3 mph — makes it even more dangerous. Experts say the longer it lingers, the heavier the rainfall and the higher the risk of deadly flooding and landslides. The US-based National Hurricane Center has described the approaching storm as a “catastrophic event” likely to dump nearly 40 inches of rain over the next four days.
Follow Republic Policy on YouTube
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered immediate evacuations in vulnerable areas, including parts of Kingston. “Every Jamaican must prepare, stay indoors, and follow evacuation orders,” he said, pledging resilience in the aftermath. Across the island, shelters are filling up, roads are closing, and emergency teams brace for the storm’s full impact tonight.
