British News Agency

Hurricane Melissa, after passing over Jamaica, is moving toward Cuba as the most powerful storm to hit the Caribbean in modern history.

The storm has intensified to Category 4, prompting evacuations in Cuba.

Before making landfall, three deaths were reported in Jamaica, and a government official said it was too early to know if there would be more casualties.

The hurricane reportedly caused devastating flooding along Jamaica’s southwestern coast.

According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, internet connectivity in Jamaica dropped to 42% of normal levels.

NetBlocks said the storm’s strong winds caused widespread damage to the country’s electrical and communications infrastructure, disrupting transportation in many areas.

A video shared by the Jamaica Constabulary Force showed police officers inspecting extensive damage near Black River, where Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm.

The footage shows downed power lines, piles of debris, and vehicles stranded in muddy water.