KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa unleashed its fury on Jamaica as its eye began impacting the island at 11:00 am. According to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service), the storm’s core officially made landfall at 12:02 pm in New Hope, Westmoreland, with staggering wind speeds of 185 miles per hour. The hurricane has triggered widespread devastation, particularly along the island’s south coast, with severe flooding and significant property damage reported in St Elizabeth, Manchester, Westmoreland, and St James. Authorities have issued urgent warnings for residents to remain indoors as the situation is anticipated to deteriorate further. Emergency response teams are on high alert, but the extreme weather conditions are hampering rescue and relief efforts.
分类： world
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#EyeOnMelissa: St Ann feeling wrath of Category 5 storm
As Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 5 storm, approached Jamaica, the residents of Priory in St Ann were already grappling with its early impacts. Evadney Mills, a local resident, shared her ordeal with Observer Online, revealing that her son’s roof had been torn off by the storm’s fierce winds on Monday night. Mills was en route to a hardware store to purchase zinc for urgent repairs, stopping briefly at a gas station to refuel. The Boot gas station in Mamee Bay, St Ann, became a temporary refuge for many preparing for the storm’s full force. Mills described the weather conditions as increasingly severe, with strong winds and heavy waves battering the area. Despite the visible damage, including fallen trees and scattered debris, Mills expressed gratitude for their safety. A large tree near a busy roundabout in St Ann had partially collapsed, though the road remained passable. The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has issued continuous warnings, urging residents to prepare for sustained winds, torrential rainfall, and potential flooding as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall.
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Govt to help fund extra stay for Jamaica wedding guests who remained
The Davis administration has stepped in to provide financial assistance to a group of Bahamians stranded in Jamaica due to Hurricane Melissa. The 50-member group, which includes residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama, traveled to Jamaica to attend the wedding of Darren Henfield’s brother. However, they were unable to leave before the hurricane’s arrival and lacked the funds to extend their stay. The group is currently sheltering at the Dreams Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Montego Bay. Darren Henfield, a Hurricane Dorian survivor and former Foreign Affairs Minister, confirmed the government’s intervention, expressing gratitude for the support. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper played a key role in securing accommodations for the group. Hurricane Melissa, now a Category Five storm, is expected to bring fierce winds and torrential rain to Jamaica before moving toward Cuba and the southern Bahamas. Jamaican airports were closed on October 26 as the storm approached. Hotel officials have been briefing guests on emergency protocols, advising them to prepare overnight bags with essentials in case of evacuation. A muster point has been designated in the hotel lobby for safety. The resort has committed to providing three meals daily, weather permitting. The group, which includes individuals still traumatized by Hurricane Dorian, is leaning on each other for emotional support, with a traveling pastor offering counseling. Meanwhile, at the University of the West Indies’ Mona Campus, 17 Bahamian students remain on site, while 76 others were evacuated on a Bahamasair flight last Friday. Victoria Jean-Jacques, president of the Bahamian Students Association in Jamaica, reported calm conditions despite the storm’s approach.
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US kills 14 in strikes on alleged Pacific drug boats
In a significant escalation of its anti-narcotics campaign, US forces have killed 14 individuals in strikes targeting four suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday. This brings the total death toll from Washington’s operations to at least 57 since early September. The latest strikes, conducted on Monday in international waters, mark the deadliest single-day toll in the campaign so far. Hegseth stated that the vessels were identified by intelligence as transporting narcotics along known trafficking routes. A sole survivor was reported, with Mexican authorities taking responsibility for coordinating the rescue. The Pentagon released video footage of the strikes, which included two stationary boats and two others speeding across open water. Despite the US claims, experts argue that such strikes are illegal, even if targeting known traffickers, and Washington has yet to provide concrete evidence of drug smuggling. The US has significantly bolstered its military presence in Latin America, deploying seven Navy warships, F-35 stealth warplanes, and the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the region. This buildup has sparked regional tensions, with Venezuela accusing the US of plotting to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa hinted at the possibility of hosting a foreign military base in the Galapagos Islands, potentially involving the US, to combat drug trafficking and illegal fishing.
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No tsunami threat after morning earthquake
A significant earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale rattled the eastern Caribbean region early Monday morning. The seismic event occurred at approximately 8:39 a.m., with its epicenter located in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of Barbados, as reported by the Barbados Meteorological Services. Although some residents in Barbados experienced mild tremors, officials have assured the public that there is no immediate danger or tsunami threat. Authorities have urged citizens to remain calm and continue with their daily routines while staying informed through official channels for any further updates. The swift response and clear communication from local agencies have helped mitigate potential concerns, ensuring that the situation remains under control.
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Catastrophic category 5 hurricane bears down on Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa has escalated into a devastating Category 5 storm, posing a severe threat to Jamaica and other Caribbean nations. On the morning of October 27, the hurricane was reported to be approximately 205 kilometers southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph—surpassing the threshold for a Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The slow-moving storm, crawling westward at just 3 mph, is expected to unleash up to 30 inches of rain and a life-threatening storm surge upon landfall on October 28. This makes Melissa the most powerful hurricane in recent history to directly target Jamaica. Authorities have issued urgent warnings, with Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council, urging residents to take the storm seriously and avoid complacency. The hurricane is projected to continue its path, impacting eastern Cuba and the Bahamas by October 29. In eastern Cuba, hurricane warnings are in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguin provinces, with forecasts predicting up to 20 inches of rain and significant coastal storm surges. The storm has already wreaked havoc in Hispaniola, claiming at least four lives—three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic—while displacing thousands and damaging over 750 homes. Flooding has isolated numerous communities, with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation warning of potential agricultural devastation as floodwaters obstruct access to farmland and markets. As Melissa continues to dump torrential rain over southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the region braces for further destruction.
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6.1 magnitude earthquake felt in Dominica, other islands
A significant seismic event occurred on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 8:55 a.m. local time (12:55 UTC), as reported by the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI SRC). The earthquake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, was manually located using seismic data and had a depth of 29 kilometers. The epicenter was pinpointed at latitude 16.55°N and longitude 59.53°W, situated in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Lesser Antilles. The closest populated areas to the epicenter include Point-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, approximately 225 kilometers to the east; Roseau in Dominica, about 249 kilometers to the northeast; and Saint John’s in Antigua and Barbuda, roughly 265 kilometers to the east-southeast. The UWI SRC has urged individuals who may have felt the tremors to share their experiences through its earthquake feedback portal. The initial location was determined using automated computer algorithms and is considered preliminary, with potential revisions following further analysis by SRC seismic experts.
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Strong Earthquakes Felt in Antigua and Across Eastern Caribbean
A series of powerful earthquakes jolted the Eastern Caribbean on Monday morning, causing tremors across several islands, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. The seismic activity began with a magnitude 6.7 quake at 8:38 a.m. local time, recorded by the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC). The epicenter was located approximately 264 kilometers east-southeast of St. John’s, at a depth of 12 kilometers. This initial tremor was swiftly followed by a sequence of aftershocks, including a magnitude 5.2 at 8:46 a.m., a magnitude 6.1 at 8:55 a.m., and a magnitude 5.4 at 9:26 a.m., all occurring at varying depths. Residents across the northern Windward and Leeward Islands reported light to moderate shaking, though no immediate damage or injuries were reported. The quakes originated along the boundary between the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, a region notorious for its seismic activity. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation for potential aftershocks and urging residents to remain vigilant and review their earthquake preparedness plans. The UWI-SRC has encouraged those who felt the tremors to report their experiences to aid in ongoing research and monitoring efforts.
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Jamaica braces for a possible category 5 Hurricane Melissa; Dominica moves to ensure safety of students in Jamaica and Cuba
Jamaica is on high alert as Hurricane Melissa, now classified as a Category 5 storm, approaches with devastating force. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued the upgrade early Monday, predicting destructive winds and catastrophic flooding for the island. As of 12:00 GMT, the hurricane was located 135 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, with sustained winds reaching 160 mph. Forecasters warn that Melissa could intensify further in the next 12 to 24 hours, posing an unprecedented threat to the region. The storm’s slow movement is expected to bring prolonged rainfall, with up to 40 inches anticipated in some areas over four days. Authorities have declared the entire island ‘threatened’ and ordered evacuations in vulnerable areas, including parts of Kingston. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has mandated immediate evacuations, and all 881 emergency shelters are now operational. Residents in flood-prone zones are urged to seek safety as life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds are expected overnight or early Tuesday. Hurricane Melissa has already wreaked havoc on Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, claiming at least four lives and causing widespread flooding. In Haiti, three fatalities and hundreds of flooded homes have been reported, while in the Dominican Republic, a 79-year-old man was swept away by floodwaters in Santo Domingo. A 13-year-old boy remains missing after being carried away by strong currents. Meanwhile, Dominica’s Ministry of Education has confirmed the safety of Dominican students in Jamaica and Cuba, ensuring they are well-prepared and supported. The government continues to monitor the situation and maintain communication to safeguard all affected individuals.
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Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Shakes Antigua and Barbuda, Felt Across Eastern Caribbean
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the Eastern Caribbean on Monday morning, sending tremors across several islands, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. The seismic event occurred at approximately 8:38 a.m., with its epicenter located about 161 kilometers off the coast of Marigot, Dominica, according to regional seismic monitoring agencies. In Antigua and Barbuda, the quake was strongly felt in areas such as St. John’s, Bolans, and All Saints, with the shaking lasting nearly 45 seconds. Residents reported rattling furniture and swaying light fixtures during the brief but intense tremor. While no damage or injuries have been reported thus far, local authorities remain vigilant for potential aftershocks. The Eastern Caribbean is situated along the boundary of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, a region known for its high seismic activity. This incident underscores the persistent earthquake risks in the area and highlights the importance of ongoing preparedness efforts.