Mexico City, 28 October 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica with full force as a Category 5 storm, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said on Tuesday.

With sustained winds of 295 kilometres per hour (km/h), Melissa struck the south-west coast of the Caribbean nation near the town of New Hope, according to the NHC.

It is among the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic. Jamaican leaders and storm experts described the situation as extremely dangerous and life-threatening.

The Red Cross warned that the storm's impact could potentially be "unprecedented" for the nation of 2.8 million people. Storm surges, flooding and landslides are expected.

The hurricane centre has warned of catastrophic winds, which could be up to 30% stronger in higher mountain regions. Buildings near the eye of the storm could be completely destroyed, it said.

The NHC said "catastrophic flash flooding" was expected, along with storm surges up to 4 metres along the southern coast.

Evacuation orders had been put in place for several towns in the most vulnerable coastal areas.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged residents to stay indoors and follow official instructions.

The military called up reservists alongside regular troops to assist in rescue operations.

"Our forces, including the Jamaica National Reserve, will be on the ground to support relief operations, safeguard communities, and restore critical services as quickly as possible," acting Chief of Defence Staff O’Neil Bogle said.

More than 240,000 households were already without power before the hurricane made landfall – about 35% of Jamaica Public Service Company customers. In the hardest-hit south-western regions, including Saint Elizabeth and Manchester, up to 75% of customers were without electricity, the company said.

Storm already caused fatalities

Melissa has already claimed lives before reaching Jamaica. At least four people died in Haiti and the Dominican Republic due to heavy rains. In Jamaica, three people died while cutting down trees in preparation for the hurricane, the Health Ministry said.

The hurricane developed into an extremely dangerous system over the Caribbean in recent days, moving at only around 7 km/h. Slow-moving hurricanes are particularly destructive because they linger over affected areas.

Cuba and the Bahamas brace for impact

Forecasts indicate Melissa will move across Jamaica, from the south to the north coast.

The NHC warned that the storm would then hit south-eastern Cuba by late Tuesday, prompting hurricane warnings for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguín.

More than 119,000 people evacuated their homes in anticipation of the storm, state media in Cuba reported.

Parts of the Bahamas, expected to be affected on Wednesday, were also under hurricane warnings, with authorities preparing to move thousands from high-risk areas.

Hurricanes, also called tropical cyclones, form over warm ocean waters, and experts say rising global temperatures increase the likelihood of stronger storms. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Photo: EPA