Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica: seven dead, thousands without power

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean, has unleashed record-breaking winds and catastrophic flooding across Jamaica.

At least seven people have died — three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.

The Category 5 storm hit near New Hope with winds of up to 185mph, tearing down trees, flooding neighborhoods, and leaving over 240,000 residents without power.

Authorities warned people to beware of crocodiles forced from their habitats by rising waters.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness told CNN the hurricane would cause "catastrophic damage":

“There is no infrastructure in this region, or maybe anywhere in the world, that could withstand a Category 5 hurricane without some level of damage.”

The Red Cross is preparing to assist up to 1.5 million people. Hospitals, schools, and homes have been inundated, and rescue operations are ongoing.

Hundreds of British tourists remain stranded.

One of them, Michaela Menezes, told The Sun she and her two children were sheltering in their hotel room:

“We pushed the beds together so the kids could stay close. The wind is roaring and rain is pelting down. If the windows blow in, we’ll move to the bathroom.”

Another British tourist, Rebecca Chapman, told BBC Radio 4:

“The sea doesn’t look like the Caribbean anymore — it’s dark, angry, and rumbling. It’s eerie and strange.”

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has downgraded Melissa to Category 3 as it moves slowly toward Cuba with sustained winds of 125mph.

Officials continue to describe the situation as “the last chance to save yourself.”