KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Hurricane Melissa strengthened 
Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-
level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and 
urging residents to seek shelter immediately.

Melissa has been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican 
Republic this week, as its outer bands brought heavy rains and landslides.

The storm is moving at a worryingly slow pace, meaning areas in its path 
could see punishing conditions for far longer than a hurricane that passes by 
more quickly.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Melissa was packing maximum winds 
nearing 160 miles (260 kilometers) per hour.

Up to 40 inches (about a meter) of rainfall were forecast, with deluges 
expected to bring flash flooding and landslides to Jamaica, Haiti and the 
Dominican Republic.

"This extreme rainfall potential, owing to the slow motion, is going to 
create a catastrophic event here for Jamaica," NHC Deputy Director Jamie 
Rhome said in a webcast briefing.

Melissa is currently moving at just three miles an hour.

"You need to just be wherever you're going to be and be ready to ride this 
out for several days," Rhome said.

"Conditions will deteriorate really, really rapidly here in the next few 
hours. Don't be out and about after sunset."

A 79-year-old man was found dead in the Dominican Republic after being swept 
away in a stream, officials there said Saturday. A 13-year-old boy was 
missing.

In neighboring Haiti, the civil protection agency reported the deaths of 
three people caused by storm conditions.

"You feel powerless, unable to do anything, just run away and leave 
everything behind," Angelita Francisco, a 66-year-old homemaker who fled her 
neighborhood in the Dominican Republic, told AFP through tears.

Floodwater had inundated her house, causing her refrigerator to float away as 
trash bobbed around the home.

- 'Cannot bet against Melissa' -

Jamaica was expected to see deteriorating conditions from Melissa through 
Monday, with landfall expected early Tuesday.

"Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides and 
likely" in Jamaica, the NHC warned.

Destructive winds will lead to "extensive infrastructural damage, long-
lasting power and communications outages," it added.

A storm surge of up to 13 feet (four meters) is expected along the country's 
southern coastline, according to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, and 
mandatory evacuations were ordered for several coastal areas of the island 
nation.

Winston Moxam was hurrying to prepare his home for the coming storm, telling 
AFP if "I lose my roof, I lose a whole lot of things."

He said he was particularly worried by warnings it could be worse than 1988's 
Hurricane Gilbert, which left over 40 dead in Jamaica and killed hundreds 
more around the Caribbean and in Mexico.

The international airport in Kingston closed late Saturday, as did all 
seaports.

Government official Desmond McKenzie told a briefing that storm shelters had 
been activated across the island nation.

"There is nothing more we can do as a government but to beg and beseech 
persons to heed the warning -- and if it will help, I will go on my knees," 
he said.

"This is one bet you cannot win. You cannot bet against Melissa," he warned.

At 0900 GMT Monday, the hurricane was located about 130 miles south-southwest 
of Kingston and 315 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross 
over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy 
winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic's emergency operations center has placed nine of 31 
provinces on red alert due to risk of flash floods, rising rivers and 
landslides.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs 
from early June to late November.

The last major hurricane to impact Jamaica was Beryl in early July 2024 -- an 
abnormally strong storm for the time of year.

Beryl brought downpours and strong winds to Jamaica as it moved past the 
island's southern coast, leaving at least four people dead.