Hurricane Melissa charges toward eastern Cuba after devastating Jamaica

Floodwaters trapped at least three families in their homes in the community of Black River in western Jamaica, and crews were unable to help them because of dangerous conditions

Hurricane Melissa barrelled toward eastern Cuba, where it was expected to make landfall as a major storm early Wednesday after pummelling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

Authorities in Cuba had evacuated more than 700,000 people, according to Granma, the official newspaper, and forecasters said the Category 4 storm would unleash catastrophic damage in Santiago de Cuba and nearby areas.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin and Las Tunas, as well as for the southeastern and central Bahamas. A hurricane watch was in effect for Bermuda.

On Tuesday night, Melissa had top sustained winds of 215 kph and was moving northeast at 15 kph according to the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami. The hurricane was centred about 175 kilometers southwest of Guantnamo, Cuba, and was forecast to move across the island through the night.

The storm was expected to generate a storm surge of up to 3.6 metres in the region and drop up to 51 centimeters of rain in parts of eastern Cuba.

Numerous landslides are likely in those areas, said Michael Brennan, director of the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami.

The hurricane could worsen Cuba's severe economic crisis, which already has led to prolonged power blackouts, fuel shortages and food shortages.

There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage, President Miguel Daz-Canel said in a televised address, in which he assured that no one is left behind and no resources are spared to protect the lives of the population.

At the same time, he urged the population not to underestimate the power of Melissa, the strongest ever to hit national territory.

Provinces from Guantnamo in the far east to Camagey, almost in the center of elongated Cuba, had already suspended classes on Monday.

As Cuba prepared for the storm, officials in Jamaica prepared to fan out Wednesday to assess the damage.

Extensive damage was reported in parts of Clarendon in southern Jamaica and in the southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, which was "under water, said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica's Disaster Risk Management Council.

The storm also damaged four hospitals and left one without power, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients, McKenzie said.

More than half a million customers were without power as of late Tuesday as officials reported that most of the island experienced downed trees, power lines and extensive flooding.

The government said it hopes to reopen all of Jamaica's airports as early as Thursday to ensure the quick distribution of emergency relief supplies.

The storm already was blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.