By Biiso FM News Desk | October 28, 2025 | Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm, packing winds of 175 mph (280 kph) as it barrels toward Jamaica and Cuba, threatening to unleash catastrophic flooding, deadly landslides, and widespread destruction across the northern Caribbean.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Melissa is now the strongest hurricane ever recorded to approach Jamaica and could become the most powerful to strike the island since records began in 1851.
Jamaica on High Alert
By Monday night, the storm’s center was located 155 miles (245 kilometers) southwest of Kingston, moving slowly northwest at 2 mph (4 kph).
Forecasters warned that eastern Jamaica could receive up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rain, leading to “catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides.”
“The situation is extremely dangerous. People in flood-prone and coastal areas must move to higher ground immediately,” authorities said in an emergency broadcast.
The Jamaican government has ordered mandatory evacuations in low-lying areas, and buses are transporting residents to emergency shelters across the island.
Cuba Braces for Impact
After striking Jamaica, Melissa is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba later Tuesday, before heading toward the Bahamas.
Cuban officials have issued hurricane warnings for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín, and a tropical storm warning for Las Tunas.
Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain and a dangerous storm surge are forecast for parts of Cuba’s eastern coastline.
Authorities announced plans to evacuate more than 600,000 people, including residents of Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second-largest city.
“We are moving people to safer areas using all available transport — buses, trucks, and even boats where necessary,” a Cuban civil defense official told local media.
Long queues formed at bus stations as families packed essentials and prepared to leave ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
Seven Dead Across Northern Caribbean
Before reaching Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa had already claimed seven lives in the northern Caribbean. Heavy rain and wind triggered flash floods, destroyed homes, and cut power across parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Western Haiti was forecast to receive up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) of rainfall, compounding the disaster risk in areas already vulnerable to landslides.
No Threat to the U.S.
The NHC said the storm poses no threat to the United States, as it is projected to curve northeastward after crossing Cuba and the Bahamas later in the week.
However, emergency agencies across the Caribbean remain on high alert as the storm continues to strengthen over warm ocean waters.
“Melissa is a historic and life-threatening hurricane. Everyone in its path must take immediate precautions,” the NHC said in its latest advisory.
Biiso FM will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Melissa and provide timely updates on its impact across the Caribbean region.
