Hurricane Melissa Hits Jamaica as Cat 5

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with reported winds up to about 185 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes on record to affect the island. The storm produced life‑threatening winds, storm surge, landslides and flash flooding, and authorities reported deaths in the region. Coastal communities and informal settlements in eastern Portland were evacuated amid heavy rain and flooding, while airports and ports were closed and flights canceled, leaving tourists and residents stranded at resorts and emergency centers. Widespread power and communications outages have hampered contact and relief, and local leaders, churches and diaspora groups are organizing donations as emergency responders assess damage. The scale of infrastructural damage and disrupted livelihoods has created an urgent need for relief and recovery assistance.