Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba early Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, following its destructive path through Jamaica. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

In Cuba, hundreds of thousands of residents were evacuated to shelters as the storm approached. A hurricane warning was issued for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas. As of early Wednesday, Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 14 mph (22 kph). The storm was located about 45 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Guantánamo and 205 miles (335 kilometers) south of the central Bahamas.

The National Hurricane Center warned that preparations in the Bahamas should be completed quickly. Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday with winds reaching 185 mph (295 kph) before weakening over land. It is expected to continue losing strength as it crosses Cuba but remain a strong hurricane as it moves toward the southeastern or central Bahamas later Wednesday.

The storm is anticipated to produce a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) and could drop as much as 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain in parts of eastern Cuba. This heavy rainfall raises concerns about life-threatening flooding and landslides, according to U.S. forecasters.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the nation, stating, "There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage." He emphasized that no resources would be spared to protect the population, urging citizens not to underestimate the storm's power, calling it "the strongest ever to hit national territory."

In Jamaica, officials are assessing the damage caused by Melissa. More than half a million customers were without power late Tuesday, with reports of downed trees, power lines, and extensive flooding across the island. Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica's Disaster Risk Management Council, noted significant damage in southern Clarendon and the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which was described as "under water."

The storm also impacted healthcare facilities, damaging four hospitals and forcing the evacuation of 75 patients from one facility that lost power. The Jamaican government hopes to reopen all airports by Thursday to facilitate the distribution of emergency relief supplies.

The storm has already been linked to seven fatalities in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, where one person remains missing. As Hurricane Melissa continues its path, the focus remains on recovery efforts and ensuring the safety of affected populations.