Oct. 28 (UPI) -- At least seven people were confirmed dead in the Caribbean on Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa, the world's strongest storm so far this year, made landfall in Jamaica, officials said.

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history.

Government warns of catastrophic damage likely to be caused by Category 5 storm, expected to slash through island before heading toward Cuba; 7 deaths already reported

Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, makes landfall in Jamaica, threatening severe damage and widespread evacuations.

The hurricane now also looks set to impact Cuba.

Hurricane Melissa was roaring towards Jamaica early on Tuesday morning as a newly classified Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since records began 174 years ago.

Hurricane Melissa could devastate western Jamaica if it hits the region at full force, the country's prime minister warned Monday in an interview with CNN.