Hurricane Melissa re-strengthened and is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane within the next few hours, the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) confirmed this morning. Nonessential personnel have been evacuated to Pensacola, Florida, as the storm approaches. According to an advisory shared at approximately 4:00 AM UTC by Faytuks Network, Hurricane Melissa is strengthening over open water after crossing Jamaica and is set to impact southern Cuba. The storm had previously maintained Category 5 strength for an exceptional 36 consecutive hours, a duration comparable to only four other hurricanes in the satellite record: Irma (2017), Ivan (2004), Mitch (1998), and David (1979). Typically, Category 5 hurricanes last about 18 hours before weakening. Melissa's passage over Jamaica resulted in significant infrastructure damage, including to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and the historic Black River Anglican Church. National connectivity in Jamaica plummeted to 30% of ordinary levels due to heavy winds and downed power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity and telecommunications. Four major hospitals in Jamaica sustained significant damage, and the administrative block of Black River Hospital lost its roof, though patients and staff were reported unharmed, according to previous reports.
