Hurricane 'Melissa' hit the southeastern coast of Cuba on Wednesday evening. The storm, which made landfall in neighboring Jamaica as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, is now moving northeast toward Cuba's second-largest city. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, 'Melissa' made landfall near New Hope, southwestern Jamaica, with maximum winds of 295 km/h, well above the minimum threshold for a Category 5 hurricane. An official reported that power was cut off to more than half a million people. The hurricane is expected to move toward Santiago de Cuba, Cuba's second-largest city, after its winds weakened to 233 km/h. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said residents should respond to evacuation orders. Cuban authorities said they had evacuated about half a million people. Local media reported at least three deaths in Jamaica.
'We are supposed to feel its main impact,' Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a message published in the government newspaper 'Granma', calling on residents to respond to evacuation orders.
