Hurricane Melissa smashed through the northern Caribbean and was seen picking up speed as it churned across open ocean towards Bermuda, leaving a trail of high winds and destruction from Jamaica to Cuba and Haiti in its wake.

People across the Bahamas and nearby Turks and Caicos hunkered down on Thursday as the passing storm pummelled them with dangerous gusts and rain.

About 1100km northeast of the storm's last position, Bermudans prepared for its approach, expected by the evening.

Authorities across the region, struggling to keep track of the devastation, confirmed 25 deaths in Haiti - 10 of them children - and four in Jamaica.

Melissa was packing winds of close to 165km/h, according to the US National Hurricane Center, downgraded from its height to a category two storm.

It was expe

See Full Page