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| Strengthening Gustav hits Jamaica | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tropical Storm Gustav has made landfall over Jamaica, with meteorologists warning it could strengthen into a hurricane "at any time". | |
| At 1400 EDT (1800 GMT) Gustav was just 65km (40 miles) east of Kingston and moving slowly towards the capital. | |
| It is expected to head towards the US, prompting evacuation preparations in New Orleans, three years after the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. | It is expected to head towards the US, prompting evacuation preparations in New Orleans, three years after the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. |
| Haitian officials say 51 people have died since the storm struck on Tuesday. | |
| At least eight more deaths were reported after Gustav tore through the Dominican Republic. name="link"> | |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| Heavy rain and winds began lashing eastern parts of Jamaica as the storm struck, tearing roofs off buildings and uprooting trees. | |
| Workers were being evacuated from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, as oil prices on trading markets rose amid forecasts Gustav could threaten oil installations in the region. | Workers were being evacuated from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, as oil prices on trading markets rose amid forecasts Gustav could threaten oil installations in the region. |
| 'Possible hurricane' | 'Possible hurricane' |
| The Miami-based US National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts Gustav will strengthen in the coming hours as it creeps westwards at around 7km/h. | |
| The Jamaican government issued a hurricane warning before Gustav came ashore, packing maximum sustained winds of 110km/h (70mph), with some higher gusts. | |
| The aftermath of tropical storm Gustav in the Dominican Republic | The aftermath of tropical storm Gustav in the Dominican Republic |
| A hurricane is defined by winds of 119km/h (74mph), according to the NHC. | A hurricane is defined by winds of 119km/h (74mph), according to the NHC. |
| Emergency officials there have set up shelters and dispatched relief supplies to flood-prone areas. | Emergency officials there have set up shelters and dispatched relief supplies to flood-prone areas. |
| On Friday, the storm is expected to move towards the Cayman Islands, where a hurricane watch is also in effect. | On Friday, the storm is expected to move towards the Cayman Islands, where a hurricane watch is also in effect. |
| Across the islands, non-essential government employees were sent home on Thursday afternoon ahead of the storm's expected arrival on Friday afternoon. | |
| Cayman Airways added 25 extra flights to their schedules in an effort to evacuate tourists and residents wanting to get off the islands. | |
| But officials said they were not expecting a significant storm surge for Grand Cayman - which came as a welcome relief to islanders as much of the island sits just metres above sea-level. | |
| New Orleans prepares | |
| Cuba has replaced a hurricane warning for its eastern Granma province with a tropical storm warning. | Cuba has replaced a hurricane warning for its eastern Granma province with a tropical storm warning. |
| The NHC warns that Gustav is also expected to produce heavy rainfall - up to 25 inches (64cm) in some places - over Jamaica and the Caymans. | The NHC warns that Gustav is also expected to produce heavy rainfall - up to 25 inches (64cm) in some places - over Jamaica and the Caymans. |
| "These rains will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," it said. | "These rains will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," it said. |
| Meanwhile, the US state of Louisiana and New Orleans are making their own preparations ahead of Gustav's arrival. | Meanwhile, the US state of Louisiana and New Orleans are making their own preparations ahead of Gustav's arrival. |
| Meteorologists say the storm could make landfall in the US anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday. | |
| Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. | Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. |
| New Orleans has also begun planning a possible mandatory evacuation, hoping to prevent the chaos it saw after Katrina, which struck the city three years ago on Friday. | New Orleans has also begun planning a possible mandatory evacuation, hoping to prevent the chaos it saw after Katrina, which struck the city three years ago on Friday. |
| Gustav is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. | Gustav is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. |
| Back to story | Back to story |
| Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |