New York, Oct 28 : Jamaica is bracing for a potentially catastrophic hit from Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that meteorologists warn could be the strongest hurricane in the island’s recorded history, with sustained winds reaching 175 mph (280 km/h).
According to the New York Times, the hurricane is expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning, bringing life-threatening floods, storm surges, and destructive winds.
Melissa, which has been intensifying over the warm Caribbean waters, could unleash rainfall “measured in feet,” raising fears of flash floods and landslides across Jamaica’s hilly terrain.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of more than one million residents from coastal and low-lying areas and have closed airports and schools nationwide. Emergency services and disaster response teams are on high alert, with the government urging people to follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary travel.
The US Embassy in Jamaica has advised American citizens to shelter in place, noting that it will provide limited emergency services until Friday, according to CNN.
After making landfall, Melissa is expected to continue northward, bringing widespread flooding and landslides across the northern Caribbean through midweek. Meteorologists warn of impassable roads and severe infrastructure damage in affected regions.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed concern over whether Jamaica’s infrastructure could withstand the storm’s unprecedented force.
“It’s been sitting on the south coast of Jamaica for a few days now and is likely to turn north,” Holness told CNN. “I don’t believe any infrastructure in this region could withstand a Category 5 storm, so there could be significant dislocation.”
Melissa has already caused destruction in the Dominican Republic, damaging nearly 200 homes, disrupting water supplies for over 500,000 people, and triggering landslides that isolated several communities.
With Hurricane Melissa Jamaica nearing its shores, the island faces a critical test of its disaster preparedness as residents hunker down for what could be its most powerful storm in modern history.