Fear runs across the Caribbean Sea, which is currently being crossed by Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful ever recorded, category 5, and probably the largest to ever hit Jamaica.
The storm accelerated its approach and the United States secured its ships deployed in the Caribbean. US forces “have implemented severe weather plans and have moved away from any areas where current or forecasted weather conditions are hazardous and may pose unacceptable levels of risk,” the Army’s Southern Command, Southcom, said. “Despite these recent actions, they remain ready and able to carry out their assigned missions,” the command responsible for U.S. forces in Central and South America said.
Jamaica has been hit by flood waters and extreme winds since this morning and is now preparing for the imminent arrival of Melissa. Local authorities implored residents to take shelter: “The last chance to protect your lives,” the US National Hurricane Center said mid-morning. «This is an extremely dangerous and deadly situation! Take cover now!
The winds, as reported by the Jamaican authority, reached the astonishing maximum speed of 295 kilometers per hour. That’s even more powerful than most of the most devastating storms in recent history, including 2005’s Katrina, which destroyed the US city of New Orleans. “For Jamaica it will be the storm of the century so far,” said Anne-Claire Fontan of the World Meteorological Organization.
Meanwhile, seven deaths, three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, have been recorded due to the worsening of the situation. “This is not the time to be brave,” Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said in a briefing, lamenting that around 880 shelters in the country were still empty.
“Keep Safe Jamaica,” Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, one of Jamaica’s most famous figures, wrote on X.
The Jamaica Red Cross, which was distributing drinking water and hygiene kits in view of the infrastructure disruption, said Melissa’s “slowness” had exacerbated the anxiety in recent hours. In fact, the hurricane has slowed down, like a harbinger of a stronger-than-expected apocalypse. It was supposed to hit the eastern tip of Cuba as early as this evening, but it hasn’t actually touched down in Jamaica yet.
Meanwhile, on the Caribbean island, 240,000 people are already without electricity. The energy and transport minister said high-voltage substations, essential transmission and distribution lines across the island were forced to close their doors.
The last major hurricane to hit Jamaica was Beryl in July 2024, an unusually strong storm for that time of year. “Human-caused climate change is making all the worst aspects of Hurricane Melissa even worse,” said climate scientist Daniel Gilford. According to the Red Cross, the hurricane could affect 1.5 million people.
The impact on the population will include disruptions to essential services, market disruptions and, of course, roadblocks. Melissa is then expected to hit Cuba, where authorities have begun closing schools and evacuating residents.