Jamaican officials issued urgent warnings on Saturday as Hurricane Melissa approaches, threatening to become the strongest storm ever recorded in the country.
“Do not take this lightly,” warned Daryl Vaz, Jamaica's Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport. “Avoid making foolish decisions, like venturing out in the middle of the storm to see what's happening."
The National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend. In response, all airports in Jamaica will close at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The last flight of the day will be allowed to land if delayed, but all subsequent flights will be suspended until further notice.
Melissa is forecast to reach Category 4 strength as it passes over Jamaica, making it the most powerful storm to ever impact the country, according to Evan Thompson, Director of Jamaica’s Meteorological Service.
“There is nowhere that will escape the wrath of this storm,” Thompson stated. The storm is expected to bring between 20 to 30 inches of rain, with National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome calling the situation "very concerning."
“If you have friends or family in the area, it’s crucial that you contact them to ensure they are aware and taking necessary precautions,” Rhome urged.
Hurricane Melissa has already claimed the lives of at least three people in Haiti. The Haitian Civil Protection Agency reported two fatalities from a landslide near Port-au-Prince on Thursday, and an elderly man was killed by a falling tree in Marigot.
As of 2 p.m. ET Saturday, the storm was moving west-northwest at just 1 mph, located about 145 miles southeast of Kingston.
The hurricane center warned of “life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides” across Jamaica and southern Hispaniola over the weekend. In the Dominican Republic, more than 500,000 people have already lost water service due to downed trees and widespread traffic disruptions.
Greetings from Tripoli — a city that stands at the heart of Africa’s energy landscape and today hosts one of the continent’s key regional gather...
Children are forming new patterns of trust and attachment with AI companions, entering a world where digital partners shape their play, their confiden...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will meet US President Donald Trump later this month, saying discussions will focus on...
A delayed local vote in the rural Honduran town of San Antonio de Flores has become a pivotal moment in the country’s tightest presidential contest,...
A water leak at the Louvre last month damaged up to 400 books in its Egyptian antiquities library, deepening concerns over the museum’s ageing infra...
Greetings from Tripoli — a city that stands at the heart of Africa’s energy landscape and today hosts one of the continent’s key regional gatherings: the Libya–Africa International Gas Forum 2025.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will meet US President Donald Trump later this month, saying discussions will focus on the second phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, regional peace prospects and the future governance of the enclave.
A water leak at the Louvre last month damaged up to 400 books in its Egyptian antiquities library, deepening concerns over the museum’s ageing infrastructure weeks after a major jewel theft exposed serious security gaps.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump later this month, saying a second phase of the U.S. president's Gaza plan was close.
A coup attempt by “a small group of soldiers” has been foiled, Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said on Sunday on national television, urging citizens to continue their daily activities.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
Lava fountains shot from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano from dawn to dusk on Saturday, with new footage showing intensifying activity at the north vent.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
In 2013, just a month after becoming president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared that the days of mutinous soldiers undermining government authority in the capital, Bamako, were over. Yet, seven years later, Keita himself was toppled, facing the very fate he had vowed to prevent.
Polling closed on Sunday (7 December) in Hong Kong’s overhauled “patriots-only” legislative election, with vote counting now underway.
Greetings from Tripoli — a city that stands at the heart of Africa’s energy landscape and today hosts one of the continent’s key regional gatherings: the Libya–Africa International Gas Forum 2025.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will meet US President Donald Trump later this month, saying discussions will focus on the second phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, regional peace prospects and the future governance of the enclave.
A delayed local vote in the rural Honduran town of San Antonio de Flores has become a pivotal moment in the country’s tightest presidential contest, with both campaigns watching its results as counting stretches into a second week.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment