Hurricane Melissa churns across Cuba as Category 2 storm

A soldier helps a woman flee before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa (Ramon Espinosa/AP)

Hurricane Melissa is grinding across Cuba as a Category 2 storm after pummelling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

At least one death was reported in Jamaica, where Melissa roared ashore on Tuesday with top sustained winds of 185mph.