In the last 25 years, a total of 10 major hurricanes have lashed the island. “Cuba is right in the center of things,” a weather historian said.

Cuba is bracing for Hurricane Melissa as it heads towards Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second-largest city, threatening catastrophic damage at a time the government is already failing to provide the most basic services and thousands are sick because of the rise of mosquito-transmitted diseases and other illnesses linked to poor sanitary conditions.

Eastern Cuba braced on Monday (October 27) for Hurricane Melissa, as the Category 5 hurricane churned toward the island after passing over Jamaica, in what could be one of the strongest storms on record for the Caribbean island.