Jamaica officials closed airports until the hurricane passed through the area.
Hurricane Melissa is hours away from its expected landfall in Jamaica late Tuesday morning or early Tuesday afternoon, but the storm has already been deadly.
The hurricane is set to hit Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago, according to the Associated Press.
According to FOX Weather, the Category 5 hurricane's destructive, 175-mph winds may be too strong for buildings to handle, and officials are warning that those winds could lead to "total structural failure" near the path of Hurricane Melissa's core.
National Hurricane Center officials issued a serious warning to residents of Jamaica in its latest forecast discussion stating, "Failure to act may result in serious injury or loss of life."
The hurricane is slowly spinning to the south of Jamaica, moving over the warm waters of the Caribbean. But FOX Weather explains that Melissa is also interacting with a cold front that is starting to pull it eventually northeast on a path that will likely slice through the middle of the island.
Most residents across Jamaica have been seeking shelter inside sturdy structures, but Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness said shelter occupancy has been low in some parishes.
Officials reported there are over 800 shelters open for residents, but as of Monday night, only 76 were in use. Those numbers were expected to rise, however.
Airports in Jamaica, including Sangster International Airport and Norman Manley International Airport, were ordered closed until Hurricane Melissa passes through the area, and the Port Authority of Jamaica told FOX Weather all seaports have also been shut down.
Local perspective:
FOX Weather reported that the Jamaican government activated the nation's emergency operations center last week and prepositioned generators, medical supplies and fuel ahead of the storm to be prepared to respond once conditions improve.
RELATED: Hurricane Melissa slams toward Jamaica as powerful Category 5 storm
In addition, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on Oct. 26 that he had issued mandatory evacuation orders for vulnerable areas of Kingston and surrounding areas.
The evacuation orders, including areas like Port Royal in Kingston, remain in effect as long as the Declaration of Threatened Area Order is in place.
Dig deeper:
FOX Weather previosuly reported Monday that after Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica, the storm is then expected to make a second landfall in southeastern Cuba. Forecasters are also warning of flash flooding and landslides, as well as a life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds.
The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands were also being warned to brace for impact after Melissa emerged back over the Atlantic after ripping across Cuba.