The storm, which began on Tuesday evening, hit Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, leaving devastation in its wake. The hurricane is currently moving towards the Bermuda Islands.
According to information from Reuters, "Melissa" struck Cuba's second-largest city, isolating hundreds of communities. As a result of the natural disaster, 241 settlements in Santiago province lost access to communication, affecting around 140,000 people. Cuban authorities evacuated about 735,000 citizens.
On Tuesday, "Melissa" reached Jamaica, becoming the strongest hurricane ever to affect the island. Wind speeds reached 298 km/h, significantly exceeding the critical level for Category 5 hurricanes – the most destructive. Expected losses from "Melissa" could amount to up to $22 billion, and restoring infrastructure may take up to ten years. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the entire country a disaster zone, and preliminary reports indicate that five people have died in Jamaica.
In Haiti, the hurricane did not make direct landfall; however, heavy rains caused flooding. Reports indicate 25 fatalities, including 10 children, with 12 people missing, over a thousand homes flooded, and around 12,000 people temporarily housed in shelters.
By Wednesday evening, the hurricane weakened to a Category 1 and continued moving northeast through the Bahamas, where authorities managed to evacuate about 1,500 people. Residents of the Bahamas and neighboring Turks and Caicos sought shelter from the impending threat, while preparations for the hurricane began in the Bermuda Islands, located 1,440 km to the northeast.
"Melissa" has become the third strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Caribbean region, and due to its slow movement, it has caused particularly severe damage.
