Hurricane Melissa Hits Cuba and Jamaica
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SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba — Hurricane Melissa was grinding across Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm after pummeling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Cuba had been evacuated to shelters. A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguin and Las Tunas provinces as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas.
Melissa had top sustained winds of 105 mph and was moving north-northeast at 14 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered 45 miles northwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and 205 miles south of the central Bahamas.
Preparations for the storm in the Bahamas “should be rushed to completion,” the agency said.
Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday with top sustained winds of 185 mph. It was forecast to continue weakening as it crossed Cuba but remain strong as it moves across the southeastern or central Bahamas later Wednesday. It is expected to make its way late Thursday, near or to the west of Bermuda. Haiti and the Dominican Republic also braced for its effects.
The Storm’s Impact
The storm was expected to generate a surge of up to 12 feet in the region and drop up to 20 inches of rain in parts of eastern Cuba. Intense rain could cause life-threatening flooding with numerous landslides, U.S. forecasters said.
The hurricane could worsen Cuba’s severe economic crisis, which has already led to prolonged power blackouts, as well as fuel and food shortages.
“There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a televised address, and urged the population not to underestimate the power of Melissa, “the strongest ever to hit national territory.”
Damage in Jamaica
Jamaican officials told the Nationwide News Network, a local radio station, there was extensive damage in the island’s southwestern and northwestern regions.
“There’s a total communication blackout on that side,” said Richard Thompson, acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.
More than half a million customers were without power late Tuesday as officials reported that most of the island had downed trees, power lines and extensive flooding.
Extensive damage was reported in parts of Clarendon in the south and in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which was “under water,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council.
The storm damaged four hospitals and left one without power, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients, McKenzie said.
The government said it hopes to reopen all of Jamaica’s airports as early as Thursday to ensure quick distribution of emergency relief supplies.
The U.S. government said it was deploying a disaster response team and search and rescue personnel to the region. And the State Department said non-emergency personnel and family members of U.S. government employees were authorized to leave Jamaica because of the storm’s impact.
Death Toll and Aftermath
Melissa already has been blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.
Conclusion
Hurricane Melissa has caused significant damage and loss of life in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica and Cuba. The storm’s impact is expected to be felt for a long time, and it is essential for the affected countries to receive aid and support to recover from the disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current status of Hurricane Melissa?
A: Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 3 storm, with top sustained winds of 105 mph, moving north-northeast at 14 mph.
Q: Which countries have been affected by the storm?
A: The storm has affected Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.
Q: What is the expected impact of the storm on the affected countries?
A: The storm is expected to cause significant damage, flooding, and power outages, and worsen the economic crisis in Cuba.
Q: How many deaths have been reported due to the storm?
A: Seven deaths have been reported in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
