Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2025. 6:43 am CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP); Hurricane Melissa is being described as the “storm of the century” for Jamaica, with officials warning of catastrophic impacts and widespread infrastructure damage, according to a report from the BBC.
The World Meteorological Organization’s tropical cyclone specialist, Anne-Claire Fontan, told reporters that Melissa will be the storm of a lifetime for Jamaica.
“It’s a catastrophic situation expected in Jamaica,” Fontan said. “For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century for sure.”
Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, is packing maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and is moving slowly north-northeast near Kingston. The hurricane has already claimed lives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and Jamaican officials fear it could leave behind historic levels of destruction once it makes its closest approach to the island.
The BBC reports that around 1,000 people have taken refuge in government shelters as the island braces for impact. Abka Fitz-Henley, State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, told the BBC’s Newsday programme that authorities expect “significant infrastructure damage” from the storm’s powerful winds, torrential rains, and storm surges.
“We’re anticipating damage to power lines, roads, and coastal communities,” Fitz-Henley said. “This will likely be one of the most destructive hurricanes to affect Jamaica in modern history.”
Earlier reports confirmed that three people have already died and nearly 15 others have been injured during preparations for the storm, including accidents involving tree-cutting and electrocution, according to Jamaica’s Minister of Health, Chris Tufton.
Melissa’s outer rainbands have already begun lashing parts of the island, toppling trees and cutting power in several areas. Emergency response teams are on high alert, while meteorologists warn that the hurricane’s slow movement could intensify flooding and landslides.
The BBC says Jamaican authorities are urging residents to remain indoors, avoid risky cleanup or preparation activities, and brace for prolonged periods of heavy rainfall and dangerous winds.
Meteorologists warn that when the final data from Hurricane Melissa is analyzed, it may rank among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, marking a devastating chapter in Jamaica’s history.
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Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2025. 6:43 am CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP); Hurricane Melissa is being described as the “storm of the century” for
The post Jamaica braces for “storm of the century” as Hurricane Melissa threatens massive destruction appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
