Three dead in Jamaica as strongest storm of the year Hurricane Melissa approaches island

BBC update

THE world's most powerful storm this year is drawing closer to Jamaica as it barrels northeast through the Caribbean Sea.

Many Jamaicans have been evacuated, but the slow speed of Melissa's approach has made for an anxiety-ridden few days, our reporter in Jamaica writes.

The storm has already been blamed for three deaths in Jamaica, and four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Forecasters believe it could become the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica, with winds of 175mph (282km/h) and as much as 101cm (40 inches) of rain.

Melissa was upgraded to a category five - the maximum strength - by the US-based National Hurricane Center early on Monday.