[Watch] After Jamaica, Category 4 Hurricane Melissa Barrels Toward Cuba & Bahamas; At Least 7 Dead

Bhubaneswar: Hurricane Melissa continued its destructive path across the Caribbean on Tuesday after slamming into Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, leaving at least seven people dead across the region and forcing mass evacuations in Cuba and the Bahamas.

According to a Hindustan Times report citing regional authorities, the hurricane has so far claimed three lives in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. In Jamaica, two people were killed by falling trees while another died of electrocution during preparations for the storm.

Melissa made landfall near Jamaica’s southwestern town of New Hope on Monday evening, packing sustained winds of around 185 mph, making it one of the strongest storms to ever hit the island. Officials have described the hurricane as “catastrophic” and declared Jamaica a disaster area, warning that the full extent of damage may take days to assess.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said emergency teams were working round the clock to restore power and reach areas cut off by floods and debris. Government minister Desmond McKenzie reported that one hospital in St Elizabeth parish lost power and suffered heavy damage, while rescue teams managed to reach several stranded families, including four babies.

Eyewitnesses described terrifying scenes as the storm tore through the island. “It’s like a roaring lion. It’s mad. Really mad,” one resident told local media. Large parts of Jamaica’s southern and western regions, including key agricultural zones, have been left without electricity or clean water.

After battering Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm and is now moving northwest toward Cuba, where authorities have ordered the evacuation of nearly 500,000 people from low-lying coastal areas. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned that the storm’s main impact would begin “this afternoon and evening,” urging citizens to stay indoors and follow safety instructions.

Meteorologists expect the hurricane to reach Cuba’s southeastern coast near Santiago de Cuba, bringing torrential rain, flash floods, and dangerous storm surges.