Jamaica is on high alert as Hurricane Melissa, now the most powerful storm of 2025, moves closer to its shores after already leaving a trail of destruction across parts of the Caribbean.
With wind speeds reaching 175 miles per hour (282 km/h), the Category 5 hurricane is expected to hit the island early Tuesday, bringing deadly floods, storm surges, and landslides.
Officials confirmed that at least three people have died in Jamaica, while four others were killed in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as the storm swept through Hispaniola.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that Melissa’s slow pace could worsen the situation, causing prolonged and heavy rainfall that may trigger more fatalities and severe damage.
In its latest advisory, the NHC described the storm as “catastrophic and life-threatening,” warning that conditions would intensify overnight. At 18:00 GMT Monday, Melissa was positioned around 145 miles (233 km) southwest of Kingston, moving west-northwest at only 3 mph (6 km/h). Experts said this sluggish movement increases the risk of excessive rainfall and flooding.
“This extreme rainfall potential, owing to the slow motion, is going to create a catastrophic event here for Jamaica,” said NHC deputy director Jamie Rhome, who projected as much as 40 inches (100 cm) of rain over the next four days. Director Michael Brennan also urged residents to remain indoors. “Do not venture outside with catastrophic life threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides expected through Tuesday,” he cautioned.
The Jamaican government has ordered mandatory evacuations in several areas, particularly around Kingston and low-lying coastal zones.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness appealed to the public through a televised address and posts on X, asking them to cooperate with authorities. “Every Jamaican should prepare, stay indoors during the storm, and comply with evacuation orders. We will weather this storm and rebuild stronger,” he said.
During a briefing, Holness warned of widespread destruction, noting that local infrastructure might not withstand a Category 5 storm. “I don't believe there is any infrastructure within this region that could withstand a Category 5 storm, so there could be significant dislocation,” he told CNN.
Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon also warned of serious danger, noting that the country has endured heavy rainfall throughout October.
“The ground is already very saturated. To take that much rain means we're going to have flooding, extensive flooding and landslides in the mountainous areas,” she told BBC Newshour. She confirmed that 881 public shelters had been opened and “all of them are free.”
Emergency teams used school buses to move people from flood-prone zones, while police and soldiers assisted in setting up safe shelters. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft sent to collect data had to abandon its mission after severe turbulence, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
On Jamaica’s north coast, residents spent the day securing their homes and helping vulnerable neighbours. Evadney Campbell, who is visiting family there, told the BBC that her house was built to withstand strong winds.
“We're checking on neighbours to see if they are OK,” she said. “I am worried about people who live on the lowlands in parts of the south-east. Many do not want to leave their homes as they are worried about looting.”
In the southeastern town of Hagley Gap, teacher Damian Anderson said his community was already cut off. “We can't move. We're scared,” he told Reuters, describing impassable roads caused by continuous rain.
Across the Caribbean, the storm has wreaked havoc. At least three people have died in Haiti, and hundreds of homes have been flooded. In the Dominican Republic, one man was killed after being swept away by floodwaters in Santo Domingo, and a 13-year-old boy remains missing after being dragged out to sea by strong waves.
Forecasters warn that the full extent of Melissa’s damage will only become clear after the storm passes Jamaica, but say it may rank among the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the region.
