Hurricane Melissa could be the strongest to hit Jamaica

People in Jamaica are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to unleash devastating winds and bring catastrophic flooding to the Caribbean nation in the coming hours.

Melissa was upgraded to a Category Five hurricane – maximum strength – early Monday, the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Officials fear that Melissa, which has already been blamed for the deaths of four people on the island of Hispaniola, could become the most powerful hurricane to hit Jamaica.

The Jamaican government has ordered the evacuation of parts of the capital Kingston and has classified the entire island as “dangerous”.

An update from the NHC at 09:00GMT said Melissa was about 130 miles (209km) south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica.

It has maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260km/h) and could strengthen over the next 12 to 24 hours, forecasters warned.

If it continues as forecast, its core is “expected to move near or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday, cross southeast Cuba Tuesday night and cross southeast Bahamas Wednesday”.

The storm is especially slow moving, which makes it very dangerous given the amount of rain expected.

According to the NHC, parts of Jamaica are expected to receive up to 40 inches (100cm) of rain over the next four days.

Forecasters warned that damaging winds and deadly storm surges are expected to hit Jamaica overnight or early Tuesday.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered the immediate evacuation of many vulnerable communities across the island.

Officials urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to seek shelter in safe places.

Jamaica’s Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie told local media that all 881 shelters on the island are open.

At least three people have died and hundreds of homes have been flooded in Haiti after Melissa brought heavy rains to the island of Hispaniola.

One person also died in the Dominican Republic, east of Hispaniola.

Local media identified the victim as a 79-year-old man who was swept away by floodwaters in the capital, Santo Domingo.

A 13-year-old boy was also reported missing after he was swept away by strong currents while swimming in the sea.

Many were rescued after being trapped in their cars by the rising flood waters.