More than 30 dead as Hurricane 'Melissa' tears through Caribbean, heads for Bermuda

More than 30 dead as Hurricane 'Melissa' tears through Caribbean, heads for Bermuda

Havana (Web Desk): Hurricane Melissa has wreaked havoc across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, and is now moving toward the Bahamas.

The storm's intensity has intensified to Category 3 as it approaches the North American continent, resulting in at least 30 fatalities.

Reports indicate that 25 people have died in Haiti, 4 in Jamaica, and 1 in Dominica.

In the Bahamas' southern regions, immediate evacuation orders have been issued, while nearly 700,000 people have been relocated to safer locations in Cuba. Power outages have been reported in the affected areas, and many major roads have been blocked.

In Jamaica, the Saint Elizabeth area has been submerged, leaving more than 500,000 people without electricity. The storm's high winds, torrential rains, and landslides have caused widespread damage, affecting thousands of homes.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the entire country disaster-stricken and urgently called for international assistance. He stated, "We are in dire need of international support to tackle this disaster."

Meanwhile, the United States has formed a special task force to carry out relief operations in the affected regions, aiming to provide immediate aid to those impacted by the storm.

Authorities have urged residents to take further precautions and move to safer locations. The full extent of the damage and the storm's progress will be assessed later.