Hurricane Melissa intensifies into a Category four storm, resulting in five Caribbean nations, Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the Bahamas to evacuate low-lying areas. Authorities warned the hurricane could be Jamaica’s strongest on record, bringing up to 35 inches of rain and storm surges over eight feet. The storm has already killed four people.

 

 

Jamaica’s Meteorological Service said hurricane conditions will begin today, with landfall expected tomorrow near Manchester, after a westward track shift. Regional officials warned of catastrophic flash floods and landslides, as disaster agencies across the Caribbean moved into full emergency mode

 

 

In Cuba, thousands have been evacuated, streets cleared, and six provinces placed under hurricane watch. The Dominican Republic has distributed cash aid to 4,000 families and pre-positioned food supplies for 275,000 people in eastern Cuba.