Caribbean Braces as Hurricane Melissa Causes Widespread Damage

Cuba is now preparing for the hurricane’s arrival. More than 735,000 people have been evacuated from coastal and flood-prone areas. Officials warn of winds up to 120 mph, rainfall as high as 25 inches, and storm surges reaching 12 feet, threatening homes, infrastructure, and agriculture. Haiti and the Dominican Republic have already seen severe flooding and landslides caused by the storm’s outer bands, with fragile infrastructure and urban flooding complicating recovery efforts.