Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica, causing catastrophic winds, torrential rains, and widespread flooding across the Caribbean island.
The storm’s sustained winds of 295 km/h (185 mph) and heavy rain have caused severe flooding, landslides and power outages across the island.
According to the BBC, storm surges of 13 feet (3.9 m) above ground level are expected, along with large, destructive waves, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Energy Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed that a third of the island is experiencing power outages, while a meteorologist also warned that things will get “significantly” worse.
Several trending video clips and live reports have also shown the widespread severe destruction from the storm, with roofs ripped off homes, trees uprooted and power lines downed.
Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides were also reported, causing more than 200,000 homes to be without power and restoration is expected to take days.
“The winds are so strong you couldn’t stand up,” while one woman says “the water is coming through my roof; I’m not well,” a Jamaican man told BBC News.
However, Jamaican authorities have issued mandatory evacuations and more than 800 shelters have been opened to house displaced people. According to the BBC, relief efforts are underway, led by the Jamaica Defense Force, the Red Cross and local groups, while international help is being sought to support response efforts.
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