Wednesday 29 / October / 2025
Havana: Hurricane Melissa weakened to a category 3 storm as it reached Cuba, after pummeling Jamaica as the strongest storm ever recorded over that Caribbean island.
According to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel more than 700,000 people have been evacuated.
Forecasters warned that the now Category 3 storm could cause catastrophic damage in Santiago de Cuba and surrounding areas.
Hurricane warnings were issued for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas, as well as parts of the southeastern and central Bahamas.
US weather officials said the center of Hurricane Melissa moved off Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon and headed for Cuba.
"Life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are likely to begin later today" in eastern Cuba, the National Hurricane Centre said in its latest advisory.
Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the Communist-run island in the early hours of Wednesday.
Officials warn of displaced crocodiles after Hurricane Melissa
Jamaican health officials warned residents to stay alert for crocodiles that may have been displaced by Hurricane Melissa.
"Rising water levels in rivers, gullies, and swamps could cause crocodiles to move into residential areas," posted the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) on Instagram.
"Residents living near these areas are therefore advised to remain vigilant and avoid flood-waters," it added.
