Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing heavy rains, destructive winds, and life-threatening storm surges to the Caribbean. Jamaica and Haiti are now bracing for what forecasters warn could be one of the most dangerous hurricanes in recent decades.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Melissa was located about 125 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds reaching 145 miles per hour. The storm is moving slowly westward, which increases the risk of prolonged rainfall and flooding across the region.

Authorities in Jamaica have closed airports and opened more than 650 emergency shelters, urging residents in flood-prone and coastal areas to evacuate. The government has declared a state of high

See Full Page