Hurricane Melissa, described by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the most powerful and slow-moving storm of the century, has left a trail of destruction across Jamaica and is now heading toward Cuba. The Category 5-equivalent hurricane made landfall near New Hope in southwestern Jamaica with wind speeds reaching 185 miles (295 km) per hour. Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed severe damage to hospitals, homes, and infrastructure, especially in the St. Elizabeth region, where widespread flooding has submerged entire communities. Over 500,000 people remain without electricity. The WMO reported that rainfall could reach up to 700 millimeters in some areas, raising the risk of catastrophic floods and landslides. So far, at least seven deaths have been confirmed across the Caribbean—three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Melissa maintains Category 4 intensity as it approaches southern Cuba, bringing threats of life-threatening winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall. Cuban authorities have begun mass evacuations and placed disaster response teams on maximum alert.

On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba. During his visit, Hegseth emphasized that protecting American sovereign territory remains a top priority for the Pentagon. He stated, “The department has taken swift action to implement President Trump’s executive order on border security.”

As part of his trip, Hegseth met with officials directly involved in arresting and deporting dangerous illegal immigrants. His visit follows Trump’s recent directive to construct a detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, designed to house at least 30,000 of the “most dangerous” illegal immigrant criminals deemed a threat to the U.S.