Jamaica awaits storm

HURRICANE Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.

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Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the island today and cross Cuba and the Bahamas by tomorrow. Early yesterday, Melissa was centred about 135 miles (220 kilometres) southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 320 miles (515 kilometres) southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, the United States' National Hurricane Centre in Miami, Florida, said.

The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260kph) and was moving west at 3mph (5kph), the centre said. Category 5 is the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds exceeding 157mph (250kph).