«Storm of the Century» Melissa hits Jamaica: deaths and mass evacuation

«Storm of the Century» Melissa hits Jamaica: people die, hundreds of thousands evacuated

A powerful hurricane «Melissa», which has already been dubbed the «storm of the century» by the media, has hit the Caribbean, causing catastrophic floods, landslides and large-scale destruction.
Wind speeds reached 300 km/h, reports The Times with reference to the data The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC).

The first strike is on Jamaica

The worst of the storm hit the Jamaica, where at least three people, а dozens were injured.
More than 52 thousand inhabitants, and roads in many regions have been completely destroyed by flooding.

The country's authorities have opened more than 800 shelters, However, a significant number of local residents refuse to leave their homes despite the danger.

Cuba prepares to strike

The hurricane is already approaching Cuba, where a large-scale evacuation of about 900,000 people.
The US military has withdrawn eight ships of the US Navy from the base in Guantanamo Bay, The unit must be removed to avoid damage.
According to weather forecasters, after Cuba, Melissa will pass over Bahamas, and then can reach Florida.

The threat of «catastrophic flooding»

The US National Hurricane Centre warns of «sudden catastrophic flooding and numerous landslides», The latter can lead to great loss of life and destruction.
Meteorologists note that Hurricane Melissa can become the most powerful in the Caribbean region over the past 20 years.