Hurricane "Melissa" 700,000 are displaced in Cuba… and the Jamaica announcement "Disaster area"
The hurricane has arrived "Melissa" whose classification was reduced to the third category, to Cuba on Wednesday, causing the displacement of more than 700,000 people, after half a million were deprived of electricity in Jamaicawhich was announced "Disaster area".
It varies in severity "Melissa" Between categories three and five, which is the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, and the storm is accompanied by winds that exceeded 200 kilometers per hour on Wednesday, according to The US National Hurricane Center.
The center reported that "Hurricane Melissa, a very dangerous hurricane, has reached the southeastern coast of Cuba". It is expected to hit the Bahamas and the area surrounding Bermuda.
The strongest tropical storm
The wind speed in Jamaica reached 300 kilometers per hour on Tuesday, making… "Melissa" The most powerful tropical storm of 2025 in the world, according to an analysis conducted by Agence France-Presse of data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
And the last hurricane similar to"Melissa" In terms of wind speed (298 km/h) and low air pressure (892 millibars), it is a hurricane "Mawar" (2023), and counting "Melissa" Also the strongest storm to hit Jamaica since the start of climate monitoring and tracking in the country.
The Cuban authorities reported the evacuation of 735,000 people, especially in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, and Guantanamo.
The Cuban authorities announced "Alert state" In six provinces in the east of the island. Graciela Lamizón in Stiago de Cuba told AFP "We bought bread, pasta and minced meat. This hurricane is dangerous, but we will get through it"
Rising water levels
In Santiago de Cuba, relief personnel tried to rescue 17 people trapped due to rising water levels and landslides, according to official media.
Leones Francos, a rheumatologist and one of the trapped people, told the website "Cuba Debt" News "We are in a safe place and trying to stay calm". The site did not indicate any injuries.
Among those trapped are two children and five elderly people, in addition to people suffering from asthma and others suffering from high blood pressure.
The doctor said "Rescue personnel arrived quickly. They called us, but they could not cross because the road was blocked".
Major damage in Jamaica
In Haiti, located east of Cuba, authorities ordered the closure of schools, stores, and government institutions. Before making landfall in Jamaica, the hurricane claimed three lives there, in addition to three others in Haiti and one person in the Dominican Republic.
Community Affairs Minister Desmond McKenzie said "More than 530,000 Jamaicans are without electricity. Work is underway to restore service, and priority is given (…) to hospitals, pumping stations and water treatment plants".
The last major hurricane to hit Jamaica was "gilbert" In September 1988, it left 40 dead and caused severe damage, although it was less powerful than "Melissa".
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