Hurricane Melissa, a life-threatening Category 5 storm with 175 mph winds, is battering Jamaica as the most powerful hurricane to hit the island in 174 years of record-keeping. The storm made landfall early Tuesday morning, forcing thousands into emergency lockdown as it carves a destructive path across the entire island from south to north.
Approximately 8,000 British tourists are trapped in their hotels as international airports remain closed and evacuation orders blanket high-risk areas. The slow-moving storm, traveling at just 7 mph, threatens to dump up to 750mm of rainfall and generate 13-foot storm surges along Jamaica's southern coast.
At least seven people have died across the Caribbean as Melissa maintains its devastating strength. The storm has already claimed three lives in Jamaica, with additional fatalities reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as the hurricane continues its deadly march through the region.
British Government Mobilizes Crisis Response
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the activation of a dedicated crisis centre and deployment of rapid response teams to assist British nationals. "Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica shortly, potentially the most severe storm ever to hit the country," Cooper said. "The FCDO stands ready to help British nationals 24/7."
The government estimates 50,000 dual nationals live in Jamaica alongside the 8,000 British tourists currently sheltering in place. Travel companies including Tui are monitoring the situation closely while advising customers to follow local authorities' guidance.
Tourists Describe Terrifying Conditions
British tourists described the storm's frightening intensity from their hotel rooms. "The balcony and walls do feel as though they are vibrating just due to the strength of the wind," said Andrew Tracey, sheltering in Negril. "I'm very nervous, it's hard to comprehend what we are likely to expect."
Rebecca Chapman, also in Negril, reported eerie conditions as the storm approached. "There's this weird roar that sounds like it's coming from the sea. It's really odd, like something's coming," she said. "The birds have all gone so it's all gone really quiet. It's like a ghost town."
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
