Hurricane Melissa LIVE: Some 200 Brits stranded in hotel as 'catastrophic' storm to hit

The Caribbean is bracing for Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful to ever strike the region. Strengthened to a category 5 storm, it is expected to make landfall on the south coast of the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica on Tuesday morning (October 28), before striking Cuba later that day. A British holidaymaker has revealed that he is among at least 200 people from the UK who have been locked down in a hotel on the island until at least Wednesday. "If I knew that the hurricane would hit while I was out here, I wouldn't have gone at all," said Andrew Tracey. "It's hard to comprehend what we're about to expect."

Winds are expected to peak at 160mph, making it the strongest of only five hurricanes ever recorded to hit Jamaica directly. UK holidaymakers are being warned of "catastrophic flash floods and landslides". The Foreign Office warns: "It is expected to bring exceptional levels of rainfall to the whole of Jamaica. There are estimates for up to 700mm of rain, storm surges around coastal areas bringing waves of up to 4 metres, and winds of up to 135mph. Catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely."

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