In connection with the approach of Hurricane 'Melissa' to Jamaica, authorities are warning of possible widespread destruction and urging residents to relocate to higher ground and seek shelter, reports LETA citing AFP.
A Category 5 hurricane, which could become the most powerful ever recorded in Jamaica, is slowly moving through the Caribbean region. So far, it has claimed the lives of three people in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that 'Melissa' is still 240 kilometers from Kingston, with maximum wind speeds reaching 280 kilometers per hour (78 meters per second).
Heavy rains and hurricane winds could lead to widespread destruction similar to that caused by Hurricane 'Maria' in 2017 or Hurricane 'Katrina' in 2005 in Puerto Rico and New Orleans (USA).
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned that the greatest destruction threatens the western part of the island.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>As of the 4 AM update from the hurricane center, Category 5 Major Hurricane Melissa’s maximum sustained winds remain at 175 mph. She is still moving toward the north-northeast at now 5 mph and she is getting ready to make landfall in southwest Jamaica. pic.twitter.com/moS1FayFdV
— Weather Jamaica (@weatherjamaica) October 28, 2025
