Storm could intensify further, threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti
Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a powerful category 4 hurricane on Sunday, threatening days of catastrophic winds and rain in the northern Caribbean, with some residents in vulnerable areas of Jamaica refusing to evacuate.
Jamaican officials urged those in low-lying and flood-prone areas to seek refuge in the more than 650 shelters activated on the island as Melissa rapidly climbs up the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale with the possibility of intensifying to a category 5 storm on Sunday night.
Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, said: “I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously. Take all measures to protect yourself.”
Melissa was centred about 120 miles (195km) south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 280 miles south-southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, on Sunday morning. It had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225km/h) and was moving west at 5mph, the US national hurricane centre said.
