Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica as category 5 storm

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, causing extensive damage and severe flooding. Over 530,000 residents are without electricity, and nearly 15,000 are in storm shelters. Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie reported that the parish of St Elizabeth is “under water” and that emergency services are struggling to reach trapped families, Jamaica Observer reported.

The storm, the most intense to hit Jamaica since records began in 1851, has led Prime Minister Andrew Holness to declare the country a disaster area. He warned that recovery will be a significant challenge, noting, “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5.”

Pictures show roads turned into rivers and downed power lines. The hurricane has caused at least seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica. As it moves northeast, it is expected to impact Cuba and the Bahamas.

Meteorologists indicate that climate change has intensified Melissa, which rapidly escalated from 70 mph to 140 mph winds in just one day. The UN’s International Organization for Migration plans to send aid to Jamaica, including solar lamps and tents, anticipating many residents will be displaced.