Storm Melissa Kills Four as It Nears Major Hurricane Status (2)

Intense rains from Tropical Storm Melissa killed at least four people in the Caribbean on Friday as it intensifies into what’s expected to be a major hurricane.

Melissa’s top sustained winds strengthened to 70 miles (113 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts as it drifted about 165 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, the US National Hurricane Center said in an advisory shortly before 5 a.m. New York time on Saturday.

The storm, which has already triggered deadly landslides amid heavy rain in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is forecast to reach hurricane status on Saturday and strengthen into a Category ...