Hurricane Melissa mapped: Jamaica orders evacuation as world’s strongest storm sweeps across Caribbean
Hurricane Melissa leaves 7 dead as Jamaica braces for biggest ever storm
- Hurricane Melissa, a record-breaking Category 5 storm with winds up to 175mph, is rapidly approaching Jamaica, expected to make landfall early Tuesday.
- The storm is forecast to bring catastrophic flash flooding, numerous landslides, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves to Jamaica and southern Hispaniola.
- At least seven people have died across Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with one person reported missing.
- Jamaican officials have issued evacuation orders, warning of unprecedented rainfall and extensive infrastructural damage, power and communication outages, and isolated communities.
- Melissa is set to become the most powerful storm ever to hit Jamaica, surpassing Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, and has left hundreds of British travellers stranded.