Massive evacuations are underway in countries affected by the destructive Hurricane Melissa, which has caused widespread devastation. The storm, previously a Category 5 hurricane, has now weakened to a Category 2 as it moves across Cuba. The US National Hurricane Centre reported that it is one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic.
Cuba has been heavily impacted, with hundreds of thousands of people evacuated to shelters. Various provinces in Cuba, as well as parts of the Bahamas, are under a hurricane warning. In Haiti, the mayor of Petit-Goâve reported 25 fatalities due to flooding caused by the La Digue river overflowing.
With sustained winds of 105mph, Hurricane Melissa is currently located northwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The National Hurricane Centre in Miami has advised the Bahamas to expedite storm preparations as the hurricane moves northeastward, posing a threat to the region.
Further warnings have been issued for countries like Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda, highlighting the potential for life-threatening storm surges and heavy rainfall. The devastation caused by Melissa has prompted the UK to provide £2.5 million in humanitarian aid to Jamaica, where significant damage has been reported.
British nationals in Jamaica are receiving support from the Royal Navy ship HMS Trent and a specialist team from the Foreign Office. The hurricane has left a large portion of Jamaica without power, and infrastructure damage is extensive. Airports in Jamaica are currently closed, affecting approximately 8,000 UK citizens who are either vacationing or visiting the island.
