Hurricane Melissa slams Jamaica as 'catastrophic' Category 5 storm

Hurricane Melissa roared ashore in Jamaica as a Category 5 system, with the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warning of catastrophic winds and storm surge. Forecasters said Melissa ranks among the most powerful Atlantic landfalls on record, raising the threat of widespread destruction.

As of 1600 GMT, the storm was about 55km (34 miles) southeast of Negril with sustained winds near 295kph (183mph) and higher gusts. The NHC cautioned that structures in the direct path could face near-total failure, while authorities urged residents to move to shelters and higher ground.

Heavy rain, storm surge and life-threatening flash floods were forecast across Jamaica, with the World Meteorological Organization calling Melissa likely the island’s “storm of the century.” The system is expected to remain a major hurricane as it tracks toward eastern Cuba before moving over the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

Officials in nearby Haiti and the Dominican Republic reported days of torrential rainfall and initial fatalities tied to preparations and flooding. Jamaica ordered evacuations in vulnerable southern areas, including Port Royal, and opened hundreds of shelters. The International Federation of the Red Cross estimated up to 1.5 million people could be directly affected.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the government had readied emergency funds and insurance mechanisms, but warned that farms, homes and infrastructure—much of it close to sea level—were at severe risk. Meteorologists said unusually warm Caribbean waters and the storm’s slow forward speed helped Melissa intensify, compounding the danger of prolonged, destructive conditions.