In brief
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 4 storm with winds reaching 130 mph, is expected to hit eastern Cuba, prompting the evacuation of over 700,000 residents. The storm has already caused significant damage in Jamaica, leading to widespread flooding and power outages. Officials warn of catastrophic consequences as Melissa is predicted to bring up to 20 inches of rain and a storm surge of 12 feet to affected areas in Cuba.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba — Hurricane Melissa barreled toward eastern Cuba, where it was expected to make landfall as a major storm early Wednesday after pummeling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.Authorities in Cuba had evacuated more than 700,000 people, and forecasters warned that the Category 4 storm would unleash catastrophic damage in Santiago de Cuba and surrounding areas. A hurricane warning is in effect for several provinces, including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas.On Tuesday night, Melissa had top sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) and was moving northeast at 9 mph (15 kph) while sitting about 110 miles (175 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The storm was expected to generate a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) and drop as much as 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain in parts of eastern Cuba. Michael Brennan, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center, indicated that numerous landslides were likely in those areas.Cuba's already dire economic crisis, marked by energy shortages and inflation, could be exacerbated by Melissa. President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasized the need for preparedness in a televised address, asserting that no resources would be spared to safeguard lives. He noted, There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage.Classes have been suspended in provinces from Guantánamo to Camagüey in anticipation of the storm. Meanwhile, in Jamaica, where extensive damage has been reported, assessment teams are preparing to evaluate the aftermath of the storm. Reports indicated significant flooding in parts of Jamaica, and four hospitals were damaged, with one forced to evacuate 75 patients due to power loss.The total impact of Hurricane Melissa, which has already caused seven deaths across the Caribbean — including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic — remains to be fully assessed as it approaches Cuba.
