The world’s most powerful storm this year is drawing closer to Jamaica as it barrels northeast through the Caribbean Sea.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to bring life-threatening conditions when the storm’s eye makes landfall on the island nation.
The storm has already been blamed for three deaths in Jamaica, and four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Forecasters believe it could become the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica, with winds of 175mph ( 290km/h) and as much as 101cm (40 inches) of rain.
Melissa was upgraded to a category five – the maximum strength – by the US-based National Hurricane Center early on Monday.
Warnings are also in place for Cuba and the south-eastern Bahamas.
(BBC News)
