Live Updates: Hurricane Melissa tears through Jamaica; Makes landfall in Cuba as Category 3.

KEY EVENTS

Hurricane Melissa battered Jamaica in the early hours of Wednesday morning, packing winds of 300km/h.

It was one of the most powerful storms ever observed in the Atlantic and the strongest to hit the island nation since records began 174 years ago.

Three-quarters of Jamaicans have been left without power. Homes, businesses and hospitals have been destroyed, but the scale of devastation will likely not be known for many days yet.

Melissa made landfall on the south coast of eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm about 6.15pm (AEDT).

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