Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated to shelters in Cuba. A hurricane warning was in effect for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin and Las Tunas
Early Wednesday, Melissa had top sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph) and was moving northeast at 10 mph (16 kph) according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centred 32 km east of Chivirico and about 97 km west-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba
Melissa was forecast to cross the island through the morning and move into the Bahamas later Wednesday. The continuing intense rain could cause life-threatening flooding with numerous landslides, US forecasters said. A hurricane watch was in effect for Bermuda
The storm was expected to generate a storm surge of up to 12 feet in the region and drop up to 20 inches of rain in parts of eastern Cuba
"Numerous landslides are likely in those areas," said Michael Brennan, director of the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami
The hurricane could worsen Cuba's severe economic crisis, which already has led to prolonged power blackouts, fuel shortages and food shortages
"There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage," Díaz-Canel said in a televised address, in which he assured that "no one is left behind and no resources are spared to protect the lives of the population"
At the same time, he urged the population not to underestimate the power of Melissa, "the strongest ever to hit national territory"
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