Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, is barreling toward Jamaica, threatening to unleash unprecedented destruction. With winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), the slow-moving monster has prompted mandatory evacuations in flood-prone areas, including the capital. Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned, “No infrastructure here can withstand this,” urging citizens to treat the threat as life-or-death.
The storm’s wrath is already visible, tens of thousands are without power, and three Jamaicans have died, with fatalities also reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. “We’re not built for this,” said a Kingston resident. JPS reports widespread outages, while officials predict long-term isolation, communication blackouts, and ruinous damage.
Aid groups like the WFP and World Central Kitchen are racing to deploy supplies. “This will be a massive recovery effort,” warned officials. The world watches as Jamaica prepares for history’s test.
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