People have been warned of further brutal gusts of more than 100mph from Hurricane Melissa along with heavy rain, which are expected to cause landslides and flooding to countries in its path
Massive evacuations are continuing for countries in the path of “catastrophic” Hurricane Melissa[1] as it continues to wreak death and devastation.
The hurricane has been grinding its way across Cuba today, weakening to a Category 2 storm, after pummelling Jamaica[2] as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, the US National Hurricane Centre said. Hundreds of thousands of people in Cuba had been evacuated to shelters. A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguin and Las Tunas provinces as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas.
Jean Bertrand Subrème, mayor of the southern Haitian coastal town of Petit-Goâve, said that 25 people died after La Digue river burst its banks and flooded nearby homes. Dozens of homes collapse and people remain trapped under the rubble, he said, adding: “I am overwhelmed by the situation.”
READ MORE: Hurricane Melissa UPDATES: Dozens confirmed dead with authorities ‘overrun’ from damage[3]READ MORE: Hurricane Melissa tears through Jamaica as terrifying footage shows total devastation[4]
Melissa had top sustained winds of 105mph and was moving north-northeast at 14mph according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami. The hurricane was centred 45 miles northwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and 205 miles south of the central Bahamas.
The agency warned that preparations for the storm in the Bahamas “should be rushed to completion.” Melissa is moving in a northeasterly direction with the Bahamas and Bermuda next in store for the terrifying winds and torrential rain.
The National Hurricane Centre has warned that countries even on the edge of the storm – like Turks and Caicos – could suffer a “life-threatening storm surge”.
The agency states for Bahamas and Turks and Caicos: “They await hurricane conditions, life-threatening storm surges and heavy rain across parts of southeast and central Bahamas today. Tropical storms, heavy rain and significant storm surges are expected in Turks and Caicos today.”
While for Haiti and the Dominican Republic it says: “Flash floods and catastrophic landslides are expected across parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic today. In Haiti, extensive damage and the splitting off of communities is probable. Tropical storms are expected until this afternoon.”
And for Bermuda it added: “Hurricanes and heavy rain in Bermuda which will start at the beginning of Thursday and continue throughout the day.”
Melissa made landfall Tuesday in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with top winds of 185 mph before moving onto Cuba. Authorities said today that about 735,000 people remained in shelters in eastern Cuba, where the storm made landfall as a Category 3.
Britain is sending £2.5million in humanitarian funding to Jamaica to deliver emergency supplies such as shelter kits, water filters and blankets in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. The government said Royal Navy ship HMS Trent is in the Caribbean and a specialist Foreign Office team has been sent to Miami to provide support to stranded British nationals.
Up to 8,000 UK citizens are thought to be in Jamaica, either on vacation or visiting family. All airports there are currently closed. Britain’s Foreign Office said Melissa was “likely to be the strongest hurricane in Jamaica’s history” and was expected to have left towns and infrastructure “severely damaged or destroyed.” About three-quarters of the island is currently without power.
References
- ^ Hurricane Melissa (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ after pummelling Jamaica (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Hurricane Melissa UPDATES: Dozens confirmed dead with authorities ‘overrun’ from damage (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Hurricane Melissa tears through Jamaica as terrifying footage shows total devastation (www.mirror.co.uk)