Tropical Storm Melissa has claimed the lives of at least three people in Haiti as it brings heavy rain and devastating flooding to the Caribbean. Meteorologists warn that the storm could strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami has issued warnings of “life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides” throughout Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The storm is expected to bring up to 14 inches of rain in the coming days, with Jamaica also facing similar rainfall amounts.
According to the Haitian Civil Protection Agency, two people died in a landslide in Fontamara, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, and an elderly man was killed by a falling tree in Marigot. Five others were injured in the Artibonite region. The storm has already disrupted water supply systems in the Dominican Republic, affecting over 500,000 people.
As of Friday morning, the storm was located about 215 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with sustained winds of 45 mph, moving slowly at 2 mph. The NHC expects Melissa to rapidly intensify, potentially reaching Category 4 strength by Sunday. Jamaica and southern Haiti are under tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches, with officials urging residents to prepare for severe weather conditions, including power outages and dangerous seas.
The storm is expected to move west, impacting Jamaica over the weekend and possibly affecting Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands later.
Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Christopher Tufton, announced that all public hospitals are in “emergency mode,” halting outpatient and elective procedures to ensure beds are available for emergencies. Jamaica’s airports remain open for now but may close if a hurricane warning is issued.
The United States mainland is unlikely to face a direct hit but may experience rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has allocated $4 million to assist over 10,000 vulnerable people in Haiti with evacuation support, emergency shelter management, and water, sanitation, and hygiene kits. Haiti, already struggling with gang violence, poverty, and ineffective governance, faces limited storm preparations.
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