SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba (AP) — Hurricane Melissa barreled toward eastern Cuba, where it was expected to make landfall as a major storm early Wednesday after pummeling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.
Authorities in Cuba had evacuated more than 700,000 people, according to Granma, the official newspaper, and forecasters warned that the Category 4 storm would unleash catastrophic damage in Santiago de Cuba and nearby areas.
A hurricane warning was in effect for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas, as well as for the southeastern and central Bahamas. A hurricane watch was in effect for Bermuda.
As of Tuesday night, Melissa had top sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) and was moving northeast at 9 mph (15 kph) according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered about 110 miles (175 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and was forecast to move across the island through the night. The storm was expected to generate a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) in the region and drop up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain in parts of eastern Cuba.
Michael Brennan, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center, stated, Numerous landslides are likely in those areas.
The hurricane could worsen Cuba’s severe economic crisis, which has already led to prolonged power blackouts, fuel shortages, and food shortages. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage. He assured that all resources would be utilized to protect the population and that no one would be left behind.
As the storm approached, provinces from Guantánamo to Camagüey suspended classes and other activities. Jamaica, having already suffered from the initial impact of the storm, reported extensive damage, power outages, and flooding, with significant assessments underway. In total, the storm has been linked to seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica and others in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Authorities in Cuba had evacuated more than 700,000 people, according to Granma, the official newspaper, and forecasters warned that the Category 4 storm would unleash catastrophic damage in Santiago de Cuba and nearby areas.
A hurricane warning was in effect for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas, as well as for the southeastern and central Bahamas. A hurricane watch was in effect for Bermuda.
As of Tuesday night, Melissa had top sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) and was moving northeast at 9 mph (15 kph) according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered about 110 miles (175 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and was forecast to move across the island through the night. The storm was expected to generate a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) in the region and drop up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain in parts of eastern Cuba.
Michael Brennan, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center, stated, Numerous landslides are likely in those areas.
The hurricane could worsen Cuba’s severe economic crisis, which has already led to prolonged power blackouts, fuel shortages, and food shortages. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage. He assured that all resources would be utilized to protect the population and that no one would be left behind.
As the storm approached, provinces from Guantánamo to Camagüey suspended classes and other activities. Jamaica, having already suffered from the initial impact of the storm, reported extensive damage, power outages, and flooding, with significant assessments underway. In total, the storm has been linked to seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica and others in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
