Hurricane Melissa live updates: No official death toll in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica after the storm made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.
After lashing Jamaica with dangerous winds and flooding rain, Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning. Melissa then moved through the Bahamas, and next, on Thursday night, the storm will pass Bermuda as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.
Key Headlines
Where Melissa is heading next
Conditions are improving in Cuba as Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 2 storm, barrels toward the Bahamas.
A warning is in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas. Up to 10 inches of rain and up to 7 feet of storm surge is possible on Wednesday.
Melissa will move into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday night. On Thursday night, the storm will pass west of Bermuda, possibly bringing hurricane conditions to the island.
Major damage halts search and rescue efforts in Jamaican town
Officials aren't able to conduct search and rescue efforts in the Jamaican town of Black River due to the damage Hurricane Melissa caused to the emergency operations center, Jamaica Constabulary Force officials said.
A container storing relief supplies was turned upside down by the storm, damaging everything inside, an official said
Conditions in the Black River area of Jamaica are “very bad,” Jamaica Constabulary Force Superintendent Coleridge Minto said, with destruction to major infrastructure, the court building and grocery stores.
“There is urgent need for support,” Minto said.
-ABC News’ Ellie Kaufman
Military sends team to assess hurricane damage
The U.S. military command that oversees operations throughout South and Central America said it’s sending a team to assess the damage from Hurricane Melissa.
"Future decisions on potential U.S. support will be based on their assessments," a U.S. Southern Command spokesperson said in a statement.
There are currently 10,000 troops deployed in the region, including eight Navy ships in the Caribbean Sea.
-ABC News’ Anne Flaherty
Jamaica's prime minister issues 'all clear' to begin restoration operations
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued the "all clear" for the island, allowing utility companies to begin restoration and recovery operations.
"The Government is also encouraging supermarkets, wholesales, gas stations, and pharmacies, particularly in less affected areas, to reopen where possible, to ensure that communities have access to essential goods and services," the prime minister said in a statement.
Residents are urged to maintain caution, “especially in areas where downed power lines, debris, or flooding may still pose risks,” he added.
-ABC News’ Othon Leyva