Hurricane Melissa strengthens to category 5 and heads for Jamaica amid warning ‘many communities will not survive flooding’ – live

Hurricane Melissa has intensified to a category 5 storm and is on a direct path toward Jamaica, prompting urgent warnings from local authorities. Meteorologist Evan Thompson has indicated that this could be the most powerful hurricane to hit Jamaica in decades, raising concerns about severe flooding and landslides that could devastate many communities. With cleanup efforts likely to be hampered by blocked roads and hazardous conditions, the situation is critical not just for Jamaica but also for neighboring countries like Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, which are also at risk.