Jamaica is on high alert as Hurricane Melissa, now classified as a Category 5 storm, threatens to unleash devastating winds and catastrophic flooding across the Caribbean nation. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Melissa to its maximum strength early Monday, warning of its potential to become the most powerful hurricane ever to hit Jamaica. The storm has already claimed four lives on the island of Hispaniola and is expected to bring life-threatening conditions to Jamaica in the coming hours. As of 09:00 GMT, Melissa was located approximately 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, and could intensify further in the next 12 to 24 hours. Forecasters predict the storm’s core will move near or over Jamaica by Tuesday night, with potential impacts extending to southeastern Cuba and the Bahamas later in the week. The slow-moving nature of the storm raises concerns about prolonged rainfall, with up to 40 inches expected in parts of Jamaica over the next four days. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered immediate evacuations in vulnerable areas, while the government has opened all 881 shelters across the island. Residents in low-lying and flood-prone regions have been urged to seek safety. The storm has already caused significant damage in Hispaniola, with three deaths in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where a 79-year-old man was swept away by floodwaters in Santo Domingo. A 13-year-old boy is also missing after being dragged by strong currents while swimming. Authorities continue to rescue individuals trapped by rising floodwaters as the region braces for Melissa’s full impact.