Embassy alerts Filipinos on Hurricane ‘Melissa’

The Philippine Embassy in Washington has urged Filipinos to prepare for the possible impact of Hurricane “Melissa,” which intensified into a Category 5 hurricane and is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Monday or early Tuesday.

In an advisory, the embassy advised Filipinos to take precautionary measures and follow warnings issued by local authorities.

The US National Hurricane Center said “Melissa” is expected to bring flash flooding and landslides across several territories, including Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

As of Monday night, it had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and a central pressure of 903 millibars as of 11 p.m. Eastern time. It is now considered the strongest tropical cyclone on Earth in 2025.

The embassy said it is closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos in affected areas and coordinating with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Jamaica, as well as Filipino community leaders.

“Please stay informed by monitoring updates from local news and government agencies, and ensure that important documents such as IDs and passports are secured,” the advisory said.

For emergency or consular assistance, Filipinos may contact the Philippine Embassy in Washington at +1 202-368-2767 or +1 202-769-8049.