Hurricane Melissa is now centered off Jamaica’s northern coast after striking as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with 175 mph winds, has weakened slightly but remains a powerful Category 3 as it moves toward Cuba. The storm has caused extensive damage to homes, hospitals, and schools in southwestern Jamaica, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness warning of “catastrophic damage.”

Melissa has already claimed seven lives, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic and left more than ten people injured.

Forecasters warn of life-threatening flash floods, landslides, and widespread power outages across the northern Caribbean as the hurricane continues westward.