Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaican health authorities on Tuesday urged residents across the island to be vigilant for crocodiles displaced by Hurricane Melissa.

"Rising water levels in rivers, gullies, and swamps could cause crocodiles to move into residential areas," posted the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) in a public service announcement on Instagram.

"Residents living near these areas are therefore advised to remain vigilant and avoid flood-waters."

SERHA -- which serves residents across Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas -- warned families to keep children and pets away from flooded areas.

Ferocious winds and torrential rain tore into the Caribbean nation Tuesday as the deadly Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record.

The extremely violent system was crawling across the Caribbean, promising catastrophic floods and life-threatening conditions.

• Hurricane Melissa strengthens as it crawls toward Jamaica

Monster hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica

Ferocious winds and torrential rain tore into Jamaica on Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record.

The extremely violent Category 5 system was still crawling across the Caribbean, promising catastrophic floods and life-threatening conditions as maximum sustained winds reached a staggering 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour).

"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation!" warned the US National Hurricane Center, urging residents to stay sheltered and as far from windows as possible, including during the brief calm offered by the storm's eye.

Melissa's sustained wind speed was even more potent than most of recent history's big storms, including 2005's Katrina, which ravaged the US city of New Orleans.

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