The streets of Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, were deserted. Strong winds are already blowing on this Caribbean island, effectively forcing people to stay at home, which is also appealed by local authorities. Landslides, fallen trees and power outages are reported.
What category is Hurricane Melissa?
Where did the hurricane hit?
What damage is reported in Jamaica?
Who is the Prime Minister of Jamaica?
“Jamaica, this is not the time for courage,” said Desmond McKenzie, vice-chairman of the Jamaica Disaster Risk Management Council, as quoted by AP. – Don't bet that Melissa won't come, because you will lose – he appealed.
The Jamaican government assures that it has done everything in its power to prepare the country for the devastating disaster. “There is no infrastructure in this region that could withstand a Category 5 hurricane,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
According to Michael Brennan, director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, massive destruction is expected in the eye of the hurricane, and in the highest parts of Jamaica's mountains, winds may reach speeds of up to 322 km/h. “This is a very dangerous scenario,” Brennan said.
According to Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist and storm surge expert, Melissa is the fifth most powerful Atlantic basin hurricane on record in terms of pressure and the strongest to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian in 2019. “This is the worst-case scenario for Jamaica,” Lowry said.
“This is a catastrophic situation,” Anne-Claire Fontan, a tropical cyclone specialist at the World Meteorological Organization, said at a news conference. “This will definitely be the storm of the century for Jamaica,” she added.
A life-threatening storm with waves up to 4 meters high is expected in southern Jamaica.
— Many people have never experienced anything like this before and the uncertainty is the worst. There is a deep fear of loss of homes and livelihoods, injury and displacement, said Colin Bogle of local aid organization Mercy Corps.
Melissa particularly threatened Jamaica, Haiti and southeastern Cuba. In Cuba, the authorities announced the evacuation of over 500,000 people. people from areas exposed to strong winds and floods. The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, ordered the evacuation of residents of the southern and eastern parts of the archipelago.
Melissa is the 13th Atlantic tropical cyclone to be named this year, the fifth to receive hurricane status and the third Category 5 hurricane.
Melissa is one of the most powerful hurricanes in history. It is stronger than Katrina, which in August 2005 caused enormous devastation on the southern coast of the USA, especially in New Orleans and the surrounding area. It remains the costliest Atlantic hurricane in history – material losses were estimated at $125 billion. The losses after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 were the same.
