Hurricane Melissa was approaching Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to hit the island since records began 174 years ago, as authorities in Cuba evacuated more than 600,000 people in preparation for the powerful system's impact.
The storm was expected to make landfall early Tuesday and cross diagonally across the island, entering near St. Elizabeth Parish in the south and exiting around St. Ann Parish in the north, forecasters said. It is expected to hit Cuba shortly afterward.
Hours before the storm, Jamaica's government said it had done everything possible to prepare, while warning of catastrophic damage.
“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5 storm,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.”
Landslides, downed trees, and numerous power outages were reported ahead of the storm.Officials in Jamaica warned that cleanup and damage assessment would be slow.
A dangerous storm surge of up to 4 meters (13 feet) is expected in southern Jamaica, and authorities are concerned about the impact on some coastal hospitals. Health Minister Christopher Tufton said some patients were moved from the first floor to the second, “and we hope that will be sufficient for any surge that occurs.”
High waves batter the Harbour View neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches. REUTERS/Octavio JonesThe storm has already caused seven deaths in the Caribbean: three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person is still missing.
Jamaica prepares for catastrophic damage
Early Tuesday, Melissa was centered about 110 miles (180 kilometers) west-southwest of Kingston and about 290 miles (465 kilometers) southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 5 mph (8 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
“We will get through this together,” said Evan Thompson, senior director of Jamaica’s meteorological service.
Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps adviser based near Kingston, saidmost families are sheltering in place despite government orders for evacuations in flood-prone communities.
“Many have never experienced anything like this before, and the uncertainty is terrifying,” he said. “There is a deep fear of losing homes and livelihoods, of being injured, and of being displaced.”
Matthew Samuda, Jamaica's water and environment minister, said he had more than 50 generators available to deploy after the storm, but warned people to set aside clean water and use it sparingly.
“Every drop will count,” he said.
Preparations in Jamaica: Residents stock up their pantries in Kingston ahead of Hurricane Melissa. AP Photo/Matias DelacroixMelissa aims for Cuba
Melissa was also expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday as a powerful hurricane.
A hurricane watch was in effect for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin, and a tropical storm watch was issued for Las Tunas. Up to 20 inches (51 cm) of rain was expected for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.
Cuban officials said Monday they were evacuating more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island's second-largest city.
Melissa has also drenched southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with a tropical storm warning still in effect for Haiti.
The hurricane was forecast to turn northeast past Cuba and hit the southeastern Bahamas Wednesday night.
A hurricane watch was in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas, and a tropical storm watch was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
