Melissa strengthens to a Category 5 hurricane as it nears Jamaica

People abandon a car on an impassable street flooded by rains caused by Tropical Storm Melissa in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Ricardo Hernandez/AP)

Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.

Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the island on Tuesday and cross Cuba and the Bahamas through to Wednesday.