Embassy urges Filipinos to prepare as Hurricane Melissa approaches

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

In an advisory, the Embassy urged Filipinos to take precautionary measures and heed the warnings of local authorities.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Melissa is forecast 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 recorded maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and a central pressure of 903 mb as of 11 p.m. Eastern Time. It is said to be the strongest tropical cyclone on Earth in 2025.

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

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

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