Hurricane Melissa struck Cuba on Wednesday, just hours after causing widespread destruction in neighboring Jamaica, marking the most powerful storm to hit the island in the Caribbean.
Melissa hit the southern and eastern coasts of Cuba with winds reaching 195 km/h, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
“The destructive storm, flooding, landslides, and powerful hurricane winds continue this morning,” the center reported.
Authorities evacuated approximately 735,000 people from their homes in eastern Cuba ahead of the storm. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned on Tuesday that the hurricane could cause “significant damage” and urged citizens to comply with evacuation orders.
While Hurricane Melissa’s strength has weakened, it remains a dangerous Category 3 storm after hitting Jamaica with Category 5 winds.
In Jamaica, the hurricane caused severe flooding and left over 500,000 residents without electricity. Prime Minister Andrew Holness reported that hospitals, homes, and businesses were damaged, along with critical road infrastructure. Holness added that no confirmed deaths had been reported yet but acknowledged that casualties were possible due to the storm’s intensity.
Meteorologists from AccuWeather stated that Melissa is the third strongest hurricane to hit the Caribbean, following Wilma in 2005 and Gilbert in 1988—the last major storm to directly impact Jamaica.
Experts warn that hurricanes are intensifying faster and becoming more frequent due to the warming of ocean waters caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Leaders across the Caribbean are calling on wealthy, high-emission nations to provide reparations in aid or debt relief for vulnerable tropical islands.
As Melissa moved over Jamaica’s mountains, its winds weakened, though it still posed a threat to mountain communities prone to landslides and flooding. Local media reported at least three deaths in Jamaica during pre-storm preparations.
“Our country has been devastated by Hurricane Melissa, but we will rebuild it and make it even better than before,” said Prime Minister Holness on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, in The Bahamas, expected to be impacted after Cuba, the government has ordered evacuations for residents in the southern parts of the archipelago.
