The powerful Hurricane Melissa weakened to category 3 shortly before hitting the eastern coasts of Cuba on Wednesday, after devastating Jamaica with fierce winds and torrential rains, declared a "disaster zone" by the authorities, reports AFP.
Hurricane 'Melissa' had hit Jamaica during Tuesday night with category 5 forces, the highest possible, causing destruction of homes and infrastructure before leaving the country and heading to Cuba, threatening multiple provinces upon its arrival, leading to the evacuation of over 735,000 people.
This powerful cyclone is approaching the province of Santiago de Cuba with sustained maximum winds of approximately 205 km/h and stronger gusts, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). "Melissa is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it moves across Cuba."
Melissa, which had strengthened to category 4 hours earlier, has caused ten deaths, three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, three in Panama, and one in the Dominican Republic.
Over 700,000 people were evacuated in Cuba, according to its president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and meteorologists pointed out that the category three storm could cause catastrophic damage in Santiago de Cuba and nearby areas, according to AP.
A hurricane warning was issued for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, as well as for the southeast and central Bahamas. There is also an active hurricane watch in Bermuda.
Early Wednesday, Melissa had sustained maximum winds of 205 kilometers per hour (125 mph) and was moving northeast at 15 km/h (9 mph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami (NHC). Its center was about 130 km (80 miles) west-southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and is expected to cross the island during the morning.
The storm is expected to generate a storm surge of up to 3.6 meters (12 feet) in the region and bring up to 51 centimeters (20 inches) of rain to eastern Cuba.
"Numerous landslides are likely to occur in those areas," stated Michael Brennan, NHC director.
The hurricane could worsen the severe economic crisis in Cuba, which has already led to prolonged blackouts and shortages of fuel and food.
In a televised speech, Díaz-Canel mentioned that there will be significant damages and much work to be done, emphasizing that no one will be left behind and resources will not be spared to protect the population.
Additionally, the president urged Cubans not to underestimate the power of Melissa, labeling it as the most powerful hurricane to ever hit the island.
From Guantánamo -in the far east- to Camagüey, nearly in the center of the elongated Cuba, classes were suspended on Monday.