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The Digest:

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm, the world’s strongest this year, with wind speeds reaching 175 mph as it approaches Jamaica. The US National Hurricane Center has warned of “catastrophic and life-threatening” conditions, with the slow-moving storm expected to bring up to 40 inches of rain and severe flooding to the island.

Key Points:
  • Hurricane Melissa reaches Category 5 with 175 mph winds, the strongest storm of 2025.
  • Jamaica braces for catastrophic conditions, with evacuations ordered in vulnerable areas.
  • The storm has already caused seven deaths in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.
  • Up to 40 inches of rain may trigger deadly flooding and landslides.
  • All 881 shelters on the island are open as residents secure homes with sandbags.
  • The hurricane is moving slowly, increasing the risks of prolonged heavy rainfall.
  • Melissa is forecast to impact southeastern Cuba and the Bahamas later this week.
As Jamaica faces its most powerful hurricane since records began in 1851, the nation mobilizes to minimize loss of life and damage in what may become a historic natural disaster.

Sources: BBC