**Kingston — ** Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 4 storm early Monday as it barreled toward Jamaica, bringing sustained winds over 250 km/h and heavy rainfall expected to reach nearly one meter in some regions.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency and urged coastal residents to evacuate. The storm has already caused casualties in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with widespread power outages and flash flooding.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a televised address: “This is a critical hour for our island. We urge all Jamaicans to move to safety and support one another.”
Meteorologists warn that Melissa could briefly reach Category 5 intensity before making landfall late tonight.
