‘Storm of the century’: Hurricane makes landfall as category five
Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a violent category five storm, amid warnings that “no infrastructure in the region can withstand” it.
Source: AccuWeather
The most powerful hurricane in 174 years of records in Jamaica slammed into the south-west of the island nation on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
Melissa made landfall near the town of New Hope, packing maximum sustained winds of 295 km/h.
The US National Hurricane Centre warned that “total structural failure” was likely in Melissa’s path.
“The destruction could be unlike anything people in Jamaica have seen before,” US forecaster AccuWeather’s hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said.
“The island has never taken a direct hit from a category four or a category five hurricane in recorded history.”
Media in Jamaica spoke of homes destroyed and roofs being ripped of hospitals and medical facilities. Unverified videos posted online showed the effects of intensely powerful winds and huge waves pounding the coastline.
You might like
Footage taken in the eye by the US Air Force’s Hurricane Hunters revealed its stunning “stadium effect”, described by weather experts as jaw-dropping, breath-taking and terrifying.
Melissa’s unbelievable power led authorities to warn that the rare hurricane could leave a humanitarian disaster behind it as it moved across the country.
ABC Miami hurricane specialist Michael Lowry warned that a “worst-case scenario” was unfolding for Jamaica.
The hurricane’s slow movement is expected to bring extremely heavy rain, increasing the risk of storm surges and landslides, particularly in Jamaica’s mountainous interior.
The Red Cross warned that the storm’s impact could potentially be “unprecedented” for the country of 2.8 million people, as Jamaica has never before been hit by a hurricane of this strength.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness also said severe damage was likely.
Stay informed, daily
“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a category five,” he said on Monday.
“The question now is the speed of recovery.”
Hours before the storm, the Jamaican government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage.
The streets in the capital Kingston were largely empty except for the lone stray dog crossing puddles and a handful of people walking briskly under tree branches waving in a stiff wind.
Melissa intensified over the Caribbean in recent days into an “extremely dangerous” hurricane, the NHC said.
At least four people were killed in Haiti and the Dominican Republic following the heavy rains it produced.
Jamaica’s health ministry said three people died while cutting down trees in preparation for the storm.
According to forecasts, Melissa is expected to cross Jamaica from the south coast to the north coast on Tuesday before moving over south-eastern Cuba later in the day as a “major hurricane”.
It is forecast to reach the Bahamas on Wednesday.
-with AP
