The impacts of record-breaking Hurricane Melissa continue to be felt throughout the Caribbean.
What began as one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded, with sustained winds reaching 185 mph, has now weakened to a Category 2 storm as it made landfall in Cuba.
Starting this afternoon, the Associated Press reports 23 deaths in Haiti, eight in Jamaica and one in the Dominican Republic.
Among the more than 30 confirmed deaths, one occurred when winds equivalent to an EF-4 tornado caused a tree to fall on a baby in Jamaica.
As there are still dozens of people missing, authorities fear that the death toll will continue to rise in the coming days.
In Cuba, authorities have evacuated more than 700,000 people to shelters as the nation prepares for potentially catastrophic damage.
The National Hurricane Center warns of a storm surge of up to 12 feet and rainfall exceeding 20 inches in some areas, which could lead to life-threatening flooding.
Melissa is expected to pass over the Bahamas tonight before weakening over the Atlantic.
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