Hurricane Melissa is racing towards Jamaica – current information also for holidaymakers

Hurricane Melissa is moving across the Caribbean with winds of up to 290 kilometers per hour. Jamaica is particularly worried. At hurricane category 5, Melissa is expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning (local time) – it could be the most powerful hurricane ever to directly impact the Caribbean nation.

Meteorologists are warning of life-threatening floods, landslides, and severe devastation. They discuss which countries are particularly affected and what travelers need to know.

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According to the US Hurricane Center in Miami, current forecasts predict the hurricane will hit the coast of Jamaica overnight Monday into Tuesday (local time) and reach southeastern Cuba during the course of Tuesday. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are also affected.

Melissa has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm—the highest level of severity. A hurricane of this strength is characterized by sustained wind speeds of more than 251 kilometers per hour. However, individual gusts can reach wind speeds up to 50 percent higher.

Jamaican authorities have already declared a state of emergency. All airports on the island—including the capital airport in Kingston—are closed.

Several towns have been evacuated. Civil Defense has set up nearly 900 emergency shelters. Prime Minister Andrew Holness called on the entire population of Jamaica to stay home and follow the instructions of emergency services.

Because the storm is moving slowly, meteorologists expect extreme rainfall for several days. Torrential rains are already causing flooding in the capital, Kingston. TheUS Hurricane Center (NOAA) is calling the situation "life-threatening." In Jamaica, there are also power outages due to fallen trees: More than 50,000 connections are without electricity. Three people have already died in Jamaica while attempting to cut down trees in preparation for the storm.

Heavy rains with flooding and landslides, as well as life-threatening wind speeds, are expected in eastern Cuba on October 28. Up to 600,000 people are expected to be evacuated to safety.

Life-threatening effects of the hurricane are also expected for southeastern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic throughout the course of the week. On October 28 and 29, storm surges and landslides could damage infrastructure and cut off communities from the outside world, according to NOAA. At least four people have already been killed due to the heavy rains.

The southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands are expected to be hit by heavy rains and life-threatening winds on October 29.

The hurricane is already the 13th storm of the current hurricane season, which lasts from June to November, and is considered the strongest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica.

In anticipation of the hurricane's severe impact, the Federal Foreign Office has tightened its travel advisories for the region. Vacationers are advised to postpone or cancel planned trips to the affected areas .

Travellers staying locally are advised to register on the crisis preparedness list and follow developments through local media . There is an online overview of official regulations , and a map of the country shows the location of emergency shelters .

In general, travelers currently traveling on a package tour to regions affected by extreme weather can contact their tour operator. If hotel evacuations are necessary or rebookings for tours are necessary, tour operators will organize these for package travelers free of charge. If you booked your vacation individually, you will have to arrange alternative accommodation or return flights yourself.

In so-called extraordinary circumstances, such as severe hurricanes, the tour operator must support vacationers and, if necessary, arrange for an early return trip. Or pay for additional overnight stays (up to three days) if departure is not possible due to weather conditions.

Those who have booked individually, for example, flights and accommodation with different providers, may have a harder time. According to the Hamburg Consumer Advice Center, the following applies:

• For non-cancellable airline tickets, you can only get a refund of taxes and fees if you don't plan to use them. The full price is only refunded if the airline cancels the flight. It's good to know: In such cases, you may be entitled to assistance.
• If you can't get to your accommodation because, for example, your flight is canceled due to extreme weather, you generally still have to pay the price – unless the provider is accommodating. The situation is different if the accommodation is unavailable due to the local situation – in which case you are generally entitled to a refund, although the legal regulations may vary depending on the country.

Travel cancellation and trip interruption insurance policies often exclude natural disasters as a benefit. Some policies do, however, include them in their coverage. Therefore, it's a good idea to check the insurance terms and conditions for this, according to consumer advocates.

Anyone planning a vacation in the affected region in the coming days and weeks should follow media reports and contact their travel provider in advance to find out about possible goodwill arrangements. Hurricanes, like wildfires or earthquakes, are considered extraordinary circumstances. However, there are legal differences between package and individual tours.

With a package holiday, you can cancel free of charge if the hurricane has caused severe damage to the holiday destination and there are specific disruptions or an evacuation is planned. However, if you booked your flight and hotel separately, i.e., directly with the airline and the accommodation provider, you are also taking on the risk. In this case, holidaymakers can only hope for a goodwill gesture.

As " Tourism aktuell " reports, many travel providers have already contacted vacationers in the affected regions. Possible goodwill arrangements will be decided depending on how the situation develops on site.

What do travelers need to know right now? You can find all the important news for your vacation at reisereporter .

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