Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm early Wednesday after bringing violent winds and heavy rainfall to Jamaica, where it made landfall as a Category 5 storm Tuesday.

Authorities in Cuba evacuated more than 735,000 people, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on X. Forecasters warned the Category 3 storm would unleash catastrophic damage in Santiago de Cuba and nearby areas.

Melissa was forecast to cross the island through the morning and move into the Bahamas later Wednesday.

Extensive damage was reported in parts of southern and southwestern Jamaica, including four damaged hospitals and more than half a million customers without power.

Here is what to know about the storm:

A record storm for Jamaica

Melissa was a Category 5 hurricane, the highest

See Full Page