Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa makes landfall

Kingston (Jamaica), 28 October (LaPresse/AP) – Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds reaching 295 kilometres per hour. This was reported by the US National Hurricane Centre, which warned of the risk of devastating flash floods and numerous landslides. The hurricane made landfall in southwestern Jamaica, near New Hope. It is the strongest hurricane to hit the island in 174 years. Meteorologists have warned that Melissa is expected to reach eastern Cuba late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning, then head towards the south-eastern Bahamas. The hurricane is not expected to hit the United States. The slow-moving storm has caused the deaths of seven people: at least three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person is still missing.