Volkswacht Bodensee - Historically strong Hurricane Melissa nears landfall in Jamaica

The Category 5 storm, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record and the largest ever to hit Jamaica, gathered pace as it closed in.

"Last chance to protect your life," said the US National Hurricane Center mid-morning. "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation! Take cover now!"

The NHC said Melissa's winds had reached a staggering maximum speed of 185 miles (295 kilometers) per hour.

That sustained speed was even more potent than most of recent history's most devastating storms, including 2005's Katrina, which ravaged the US city of New Orleans.

"For Jamaica it will be the storm of the century so far," said Anne-Claire Fontan of the World Meteorological Organization.

Seven deaths -- three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic -- have already been blamed on the deteriorating conditions, but officials were concerned that many people were ignoring pleas to get to safety.

"Jamaica this is not the time to be brave," local government minister Desmond McKenzie told a briefing.

"There is still a small window of opportunity,” McKenzie said. "Let us see if we can use it wisely."

He lamented that many of the country's approximately 880 shelters were still in large part empty.

Surges in seawater combined with rainfall -- which will likely be measured in feet, not inches -- could trigger deadly floods and landslides.

"Keep Safe Jamaica," posted Olympian sprinter Usain Bolt, one of Jamaica's most famous figures, on X.

Ishack Wilmot, who was hunkered down with family in Kingston, told AFP they were safe and dry for now but had lost electricity and water overnight.

"The winds are up and gusting," he said. "Even though we are away from the eye, it's still really intense and loud."

- Lumbering giant -

The Jamaican Red Cross, which was distributing drinking water and hygiene kits ahead of infrastructure disruptions, said Melissa's "slow nature" had made the anxiety worse.

The hurricane had quickened slightly but had been lumbering along at a human walking pace, meaning there it could linger over the tropical island renowned for tourism.

"You anticipate that maybe within four hours it would be gone... but Melissa is not looking like that," Red Cross spokesperson Esther Pinnock told AFP.

Melissa was set to strike nearby eastern end of Cuba late Tuesday after pummeling Jamaica.

The mammoth storm appeared set to wreak devastation on the scale of some of the worst hurricanes in recent memory like Katrina, Maria or Harvey.

Scientists say human-driven climate change has exacerbated massive storms and increased their frequency.

Meteorologist Kerry Emanuel said global warming was causing more storms to rapidly intensify as Melissa did, raising the potential for enormous rains.

"Water kills a lot more people than wind," he told AFP.

"Human-caused climate change is making all of the worst aspects of Hurricane Melissa even worse," said climate scientist Daniel Gilford.

L.Meier--VB