SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba — Hurricane Melissa is surging toward eastern Cuba, projected to hit early Wednesday, following its devastating passage through Jamaica where it has already caused considerable damage. Authorities in Cuba have evacuated over 700,000 residents to safeguard against the imminent storm, which is classified as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds reaching 130 mph (215 kph).
A hurricane warning is currently in effect across several Cuban provinces, including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo, with potential catastrophic impacts anticipated. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reports that the storm is moving northeast at a pace of 9 mph (15 kph), placing it approximately 110 miles southwest of Guantánamo.
As Melissa approaches, meteorologists predict storm surges of up to 12 feet and rain accumulations reaching 20 inches in some areas, raising concerns about flooding and landslides. President Miguel Díaz-Canel has expressed the urgent need for readiness in the face of this formidable storm, underscoring that no effort will be spared to protect lives.
With the storm’s landfall coinciding with an ongoing economic crisis in Cuba, which has led to widespread power outages and resource shortages, the potential for further destabilization is significant. Cuba is also assessing the damage from Jamaica, where the storm left more than half a million people without power and caused severe flooding in parts of Clarendon and St. Elizabeth.
So far, Hurricane Melissa is linked to at least seven fatalities across the Caribbean, highlighting the urgent call for safety as communities brace for the storm's impact.
A hurricane warning is currently in effect across several Cuban provinces, including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo, with potential catastrophic impacts anticipated. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reports that the storm is moving northeast at a pace of 9 mph (15 kph), placing it approximately 110 miles southwest of Guantánamo.
As Melissa approaches, meteorologists predict storm surges of up to 12 feet and rain accumulations reaching 20 inches in some areas, raising concerns about flooding and landslides. President Miguel Díaz-Canel has expressed the urgent need for readiness in the face of this formidable storm, underscoring that no effort will be spared to protect lives.
With the storm’s landfall coinciding with an ongoing economic crisis in Cuba, which has led to widespread power outages and resource shortages, the potential for further destabilization is significant. Cuba is also assessing the damage from Jamaica, where the storm left more than half a million people without power and caused severe flooding in parts of Clarendon and St. Elizabeth.
So far, Hurricane Melissa is linked to at least seven fatalities across the Caribbean, highlighting the urgent call for safety as communities brace for the storm's impact.
