Hurricane Melissa in Cuba

Tropical Cyclone Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 hurricane and is approaching eastern Cuba. Provinces including Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Guantánamo are under Hurricane Warning, with forecasts of destructive winds up to 175 mph (282 km/h), rainfall exceeding 600 mm, and storm surges up to 3 meters. The storm’s slow movement is expected to cause severe flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage, prompting the evacuation of over 500,000 people from high-risk areas. Authorities and the National Hurricane Center warn of potentially catastrophic impacts as Melissa nears landfall before moving north toward the Bahamas.