Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica and is set to wreak havoc on the Caribbean island. 

Melissa struck the west coast of the island around 1pm ET and will now move in a north-easterly direction over its landmass at a speed of around 9mph.

So far, multiple deaths have been reported. Locals have been warned to shelter indoors, with 185mph winds, flooding and huge ocean surges all forecast. 

Melissa is one of the strongest hurricanes in recorded history, surpassing the intensity of Katrina.

That storm caused an estimated $125bn (£94bn) worth of damage and killed 1,392 people when it struck New Orleans in 2005.

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica

By Jimmy McCloskey2

Melissa struck the coast of Jamaica around 1pm ET on Thursday. The Category 5 hurricane hit New Hope with 185mph winds, the strongest ever recorded.

The record-breaking storm will now move over Jamaica bringing fearsome winds, floods and a huge storm surge.

The eye of the storm is moving north-northeast at a speed of around 9mph.