Hurricane Melissa has surpassed category four and was heading south of Jamaica. Authorities are warning of catastrophic flooding and landslides on several islands and are evacuating threatened areas.
Hurricane Melissa strengthened to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale on Sunday morning. It is currently located south of Jamaica. Meteorologists predict that it may soon strengthen to a hurricane of the highest category five. TASR informs about it according to AP and AFP agencies.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced Sunday morning that Melissa had strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane as winds exceeded 209 kilometers per hour.
**Threat of floods and landslides**
The NHC expects the hurricane to cause “life-threatening and catastrophic” flooding and landslides in parts of Jamaica and southern Hispaniola. It should hit the coast of Jamaica on Monday evening local time or during Tuesday.
The highest level of warning has already been declared in several parts of the country. Norman Manley International Airport and all ports in the country closed on Saturday. Prime Minister Andrew Holness called on citizens in flood-prone areas to be prepared to evacuate.
Victims in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Both Jamaica and Hispaniola have already been hit by heavy rains caused by the marginal bands of the hurricane in the past few days. Three victims are reported from Haiti and one person also died in the neighboring Dominican Republic after being swept away by a strong river current. A 13-year-old boy is also missing.
The hurricane moves extremely slowly, moving at a speed of only 8 kilometers per hour. It could therefore seriously threaten the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola for several days.
Preparations in Cuba
Eastern Cuba is also preparing for the arrival of the hurricane, whose coast is expected to hit on Tuesday. On Friday, the US Navy ordered the evacuation of all non-essential personnel and military families from the Guantánamo military base. Meteorologists predict that Melissa will then move north towards the Bahamas archipelago.
