Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica with Record Winds, Wildlife Trapped in Eye

Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm with winds reaching up to 190 mph, has severely impacted Jamaica and is moving toward Cuba and the Bahamas. The storm caused devastating damage, including flooding, landslides, and infrastructure destruction, with more than 650 shelters activated and major airports closed in Jamaica. The U.S. Air Force's Hurricane Hunters captured rare footage from inside the eye of Melissa but were forced to abort their mission due to extreme turbulence, highlighting the storm's intensity. Additionally, tens of thousands of birds were trapped inside the eye of the hurricane, unable to escape the violent winds, posing a grim fate for wildlife in the storm's path. Authorities and animal rescue organizations in Jamaica are coordinating aid efforts while warning against scammers exploiting the disaster. The World Meteorological Organization described Melissa as the "storm of the century" for Jamaica, emphasizing the massive human and environmental toll expected from the hurricane.