(Adnkronos) – Hurricane Melissa made landfall near Chivirico, in Santiago de Cuba province, as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds of over 190 kilometers per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. The atmospheric phenomenon will move directly towards the southeast of the island in the coming hours, bringing devastating winds, torrential rains, and a potentially lethal storm surge. Its center is currently moving northeast at a speed of 16 km/h.
Water is by far the greatest threat to life and property on the island. Waves caused by the storm along Cuba’s southeastern coast could reach 2.4-3.6 meters above normal tide levels, causing fearsome flooding. And then there’s the rain: 25 to 50 centimeters, with localized peaks up to 63 centimeters in the mountains, could trigger sudden floods and catastrophic and potentially lethal landslides, which will last long after the winds have begun to subside.
