New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm with wind speeds of 140 mph. It may become a rare Category 5 by Sunday night (October 26), according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Jamaica is under a hurricane warning while southern Haiti and parts of Cuba are on hurricane watch. The storm's centre is about 120 miles south-southeast of Kingston. It is moving slowly at 5 mph.

The NHC has urged people in Jamaica to "seek shelter now". Catastrophic flooding, landslides, and severe winds are expected to persist through Monday night (October 27) and into Tuesday morning (October 28).

Torrential rains have already begun in Haiti, CNN reported. Life-threatening conditions are predicted to con...