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Hurricane Melissa is making landfall in eastern Cuba, expected to make landfall as a major hurricane early Wednesday. After being declared one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes to hit Jamaica.
Cuban authorities evacuated more than 700,000 people GranmaForecasters expect catastrophic damage from a Category 4 storm, according to the official newspaper santiago de cuba And surrounding areas.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Granma, santiago de cuba, guantanamoHolguín, and Las Tunas provinces, as well as southeastern and central Bahamas, bermuda Under storm watch.
On Tuesday night, Melissa tracked northeastward at 9 mph (15 kph) with sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph), over the U.S. National Hurricane Center In miami Informed.
Centered 110 miles (175 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, it was forecast to cross the island during the night.
The storm is expected to bring storm surge heights of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) to the area and bring up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain to parts of eastern Cuba.
“There is a potential for multiple landslides in those areas,” said US director Michael Brennan. National Hurricane Center In miami,
The storm could worsen Cuba’s severe economic crisis, which has already caused prolonged power outages, fuel shortages and food shortages.
“A lot of work has to be done. We know there will be a lot of damage,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in a televised address, in which he assured that “no one will be left behind and no resources will be spared to protect the lives of the population.”
At the same time, he urged people not to underestimate the power of Melissa, which is “the most powerful force ever to attack the national territory”.
Provinces from Guantanamo in the far east to Camagüey, roughly the center of Cuba, had already suspended classes on Monday.
As Cuba prepared for the storm, officials moved in Jamaica Preparations have been started on Wednesday to assess the damage.
Extensive damage was reported in parts of Clarendon in southern Jamaica and in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which was “underwater”, said Desmond McKenzie, vice-chairman of the Disaster Risk Management Council of Jamaica.
McKenzie said the storm also damaged four hospitals and left one without power, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients.
More than half a million customers were without power late Tuesday as officials said trees were downed, power lines downed and widespread flooding occurred across much of the island.
The government said it expected to reopen all of Jamaica’s airports by Thursday to ensure prompt distribution of emergency relief supplies.
Seven deaths have already been attributed to the storm CaribbeanIn three, including three in Jamaica haiti and in one Dominican RepublicWhere another person is missing.