At Least 7 Dead as Hurricane Melissa Strengthens Into ‘Storm of the Century’ Ahead of Jamaica Landfall
A Deadly Path Through the Caribbean
Hurricane Melissa has already claimed at least seven lives across the northern Caribbean as it barrels toward Jamaica, bringing with it catastrophic winds, torrential rain, and dangerous storm surges.
The Category 5 storm, packing sustained winds of more than 157 mph, is expected to make direct landfall in Jamaica early Tuesday morning before tracking toward Cuba and The Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Officials confirm that three people in Jamaica have already died while preparing for the storm.
Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton told the Jamaica Gleaner that two victims were cutting trees when the storm’s outer winds struck, and another was electrocuted while securing power lines.
At least three additional deaths were reported in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where authorities are also searching for a missing person amid widespread flooding and power outages.
The Strongest Hurricane in Jamaica’s History
If Hurricane Melissa maintains its current intensity through landfall, it will become the strongest storm ever recorded to strike Jamaica since records began in 1851.
Category 5 hurricanes represent the highest level on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with sustained winds of 157 mph or more, capable of leveling homes, uprooting trees, and rendering entire regions uninhabitable for weeks.
Meteorologists warn of a 13-foot storm surge along Jamaica’s coastline — particularly in Kingston and Montego Bay — which could submerge coastal communities and cause widespread devastation.
“We’re dealing with not just wind and rain,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a national address, as reported by the Jamaica Observer.
“Melissa could linger longer over Jamaica than most hurricanes. That means more destruction, more landslides, more flooding — even in places that have never flooded before.”
Emergency Measures and Global Response
As of Monday evening, hurricane warnings remain in effect for Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, with officials warning of “catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and storm surges” across the region.
The Jamaica Defense Force has activated the National Reserve, while the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has mobilized nationwide response teams.
On Sunday, the Jamaican government issued mandatory evacuation orders for coastal zones most vulnerable to flooding.
The U.S. Embassy in Kingston is also urging all American citizens in Jamaica to shelter in place, citing widespread airport closures and impassable roads.
World Meteorological Organization specialist Anne-Claire Fontan described the event as “the storm of the century,” warning that its slow movement and unprecedented strength could leave parts of Jamaica unrecognizable.
The Road Ahead
While Hurricane Melissa is not projected to reach the U.S. mainland, forecasters expect the storm to strike Cuba later this week as a Category 3 hurricane, before weakening slightly to a Category 2 over The Bahamas on Wednesday.
Still, experts caution that the humanitarian and economic toll across the Caribbean will be immense, with thousands expected to lose homes, power, and access to clean water in the coming days.
As Prime Minister Holness urged his citizens:
“We must take every precaution. Prepare your families, protect your lives. This is not just another storm — this is history in the making.”
