"Hurricane Melissa Brings Destruction to Cuba as Category 3 Storm"
As Hurricane Melissa tore across Cuba on Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of people were huddled in shelters, bracing for the worst. The storm, which had previously ravaged Jamaica with winds of up to 185mph, had intensified into a Category 3 hurricane and was now threatening eastern Cuba.
Cuba's capital, Santiago de Cuba, was particularly hard hit as Melissa made landfall. Residents were forced to flee their homes as powerful winds howled through the streets, knocking down trees and power lines. The Cuban government had evacuated hundreds of thousands of people from high-risk areas to shelters, but many residents remained on the streets, waiting for word that it was safe to return.
The storm's impact was exacerbated by Cuba's already strained infrastructure, which has been struggling with severe economic crisis for years. Power blackouts and fuel shortages have become a norm in the country, making it difficult for authorities to respond effectively to emergencies like this one.
"It will be a lot of work," said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel in a televised address. "We know there will be damage...no resources are spared to protect the lives of the population." The president urged residents not to underestimate Melissa's power, warning that it was the strongest storm ever to hit Cuba.
In Jamaica, which had already suffered extensive damage from Melissa, officials were assessing the impact. Downed trees and power lines had left millions without electricity, and hospitals were struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The government had evacuated 75 patients from one hospital due to a lack of power, highlighting the desperation in the medical sector.
Melissa's trajectory has been closely monitored by forecasters, who warn that it could generate massive storm surges of up to 12 feet and drop up to 20 inches of rain in eastern Cuba. The intense rain is expected to cause life-threatening flooding with numerous landslides, posing a significant threat to the country's infrastructure.
The hurricane is now expected to make landfall in the Bahamas later on Wednesday, where authorities have issued a warning for residents to prepare for possible destruction. A hurricane watch has also been issued for Bermuda, which is bracing itself for Melissa's arrival late next week.
As Hurricane Melissa tore across Cuba on Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of people were huddled in shelters, bracing for the worst. The storm, which had previously ravaged Jamaica with winds of up to 185mph, had intensified into a Category 3 hurricane and was now threatening eastern Cuba.
Cuba's capital, Santiago de Cuba, was particularly hard hit as Melissa made landfall. Residents were forced to flee their homes as powerful winds howled through the streets, knocking down trees and power lines. The Cuban government had evacuated hundreds of thousands of people from high-risk areas to shelters, but many residents remained on the streets, waiting for word that it was safe to return.
The storm's impact was exacerbated by Cuba's already strained infrastructure, which has been struggling with severe economic crisis for years. Power blackouts and fuel shortages have become a norm in the country, making it difficult for authorities to respond effectively to emergencies like this one.
"It will be a lot of work," said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel in a televised address. "We know there will be damage...no resources are spared to protect the lives of the population." The president urged residents not to underestimate Melissa's power, warning that it was the strongest storm ever to hit Cuba.
In Jamaica, which had already suffered extensive damage from Melissa, officials were assessing the impact. Downed trees and power lines had left millions without electricity, and hospitals were struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The government had evacuated 75 patients from one hospital due to a lack of power, highlighting the desperation in the medical sector.
Melissa's trajectory has been closely monitored by forecasters, who warn that it could generate massive storm surges of up to 12 feet and drop up to 20 inches of rain in eastern Cuba. The intense rain is expected to cause life-threatening flooding with numerous landslides, posing a significant threat to the country's infrastructure.
The hurricane is now expected to make landfall in the Bahamas later on Wednesday, where authorities have issued a warning for residents to prepare for possible destruction. A hurricane watch has also been issued for Bermuda, which is bracing itself for Melissa's arrival late next week.
ugh, another hurricane hitting a vulnerable country... feel so bad for the ppl in Cuba & Jamaica who are already struggling with economic crisis & infrastructure issues 
their power lines & homes r getting hit by strong winds & rain 
it's like they cant catch a break 
Cuba's infrastructure has been struggling for years, and now they're facing a Category 3 hurricane on top of that. It's like they're trying to break their own back 
. The government is doing everything they can, but it's not enough. The people are the ones who really need help, not just resources, but also a system that works for them, you know? 
this storm is just heartbreaking... all those ppl stuck without power & shelter 
and Cuba's infrastructure is already struggling like, what's the point of evacuating ppl if u can't even keep the lights on? 
just saw that Hurricane Melissa is wreaking havoc on Cuba 
power outages and fuel shortages are no joke 
I'm glad the Cuban gov is trying to evacuate people to shelters, but 200k+ left stranded in the streets is a whole lotta people 
they got slammed with Melissa and now millions are without electricity 
hospitals are struggling to keep up 
it's gonna be a tough road to recovery 
and that the shelters are equipped with everything they need 
12ft storm surges? that sounds terrifying 
gotta send some love and positive vibes to all the ppl affected by melissa 
The storm surge warning for the Bahamas and Bermuda is getting me nervous too, hope everyone can stay safe 
. At least the forecasters are keeping an eye on Melissa's trajectory 
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. we need to be more prepared, you know? invest in those infrastructure and make sure everyone has access to power and resources. it's not gonna be easy, but we gotta try 
.
Like Cuba is literally drowning in debt and can't even afford basic infrastructure, and then a Category 3 hurricane comes along and just wipes out everything 
. I feel for the Cuban people, they deserve better than this 
. It's also sad to see Jamaica suffering too... 75 patients evacuated from a hospital? That's just heartbreaking 
. That's crazy! And it's not just the damage, but also the human toll - over 200 people have been reported injured and many more are stranded due to flooding 
. I mean, we've seen Category 3 storms before, but this one seems particularly intense. The fact that Jamaica already suffered extensive damage from Melissa is a major concern 
. Seriously though, 75 patients evacuated from one hospital in Jamaica due to lack of power is a disaster waiting to happen 
.
and poor jamaica is still reeling from the damage too 
. I mean, 12 feet of storm surge? That's insane! And 20 inches of rain in eastern Cuba? It's like they're expecting a war zone situation over there 
. I mean, I get it, evacuations can be scary, but come on... just take cover and wait for it to pass, right? It's not like they're going to die from a little rain 
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