Hurricane Melissa's Devastation Sweeps the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 3 hurricane, charged through Cuba on Wednesday after delivering a potent punch to Jamaica. The U.S. National Hurricane Center confirmed its status as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, prompting widespread evacuations across Cuba.

The hurricane warning remains robust for provinces including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas, as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas. With sustained winds reaching 105 mph, Melissa continued its destructive journey toward the Bahamas, intensifying efforts for urgent storm preparations.

The storm's formidable force did not relent in Jamaica, where destructive winds and rain left the island grappling with extensive damage and communication blackouts. The U.S. has deployed rescue teams as death tolls across the Caribbean rise, tallying seven fatalities so far. Haitians, along with regions in the Dominican Republic, brace for impacts as Melissa progresses.