Hurricane Melissa, with category 4 winds, is heading towards Jamaica, bringing torrential rains and risks of catastrophic flooding.

Hurricane Melissa, with winds of 145 mph (230 kph), is approaching Jamaica, where it is expected to cause rainfall of up to 30 inches (76 cm) and a threatening sea. The eastern areas of the island could receive up to 40 inches (1 meter) of rain, while Haiti could be affected with 16 inches (40 cm). Melissa has already led to the deaths of four people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Meteorologists warn that the hurricane could become the strongest to hit Jamaica in recent decades, with risks of landslides and severe flooding. Authorities in Jamaica have issued hurricane warnings for several provinces in Cuba, where heavy rainfall and a threatening sea are also expected. In Haiti, the hurricane has destroyed crops and severely affected access to markets, during a time when millions of people are facing hunger. Melissa will continue to bring torrential rains to the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the coming days.