Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has struck Jamaica, marking an unprecedented event for the island where around 300 Filipinos now face severe challenges amid the powerful tropical cyclone.
- Hurricane Melissa, classified as a Category 5 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale, made landfall in Jamaica, impacting local communities and infrastructure.
- Prior to the storms arrival, residents, including Mimi Ignacio who has lived in Kingston for 30 years, prepared for the hurricane by stocking up on food supplies.
- The National Hurricane Center has warned of potential flooding and destructive wind, raising concerns for the safety of residents and the economic impact on Jamaica and nearby regions like Cuba and Haiti.
Why It Matters
The devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa underscores the increasing intensity of tropical cyclones in the Caribbean, raising alarms about climate change and its implications for vulnerable communities and economies in the region.