Rescue efforts are underway across the Caribbean after Hurricane Melissa tore through the region as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in more than 150 years.

Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a major Category 4 storm, producing maximum sustained wind speeds of 145 mph. If it maintains its strength, it could become the strongest hurricane to make landfall over the island since the National Hurricane Center started keeping records.

U.S. Marines currently deployed to the Caribbean are well poised for any potential conflict in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Operations. This article describes the experiences of Marines in the region and what any potential buildup may look like.

Melissa began affecting the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Authorities in the Bahamas were evacuating dozens of people from the archipelago’s southeast corner ahead of Melissa’s arrival as a Category 1 storm.

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake has struck in open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and was felt throughout the eastern Caribbean.

People across the northern Caribbean were digging out from the destruction of Hurricane Melissa on Thursday as deaths from the catastrophic storm climbed. The rumble of large machinery, whine of chainsaws and chopping of machetes echoed throughout southeast Jamaica as government workers and residents began clearing roads in a push to reach isolated communities that sustained a direct hit from one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump described his face-to-face with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday as a roaring success, saying he would cut tariffs on China, while Beijing had agreed to allow the export of rare earth elements and start buying American soybeans.

A Cornwall-based charity is sending emergency response teams to the Caribbean to help those affected by Hurricane Melissa. ShelterBox said having a team in Jamaica would make it easier to understand the scale of the damage and co-ordinate with its humanitarian partners.