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| Britons in Jamaica travel warning | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Foreign Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Jamaica because of Hurricane Dean, which has claimed three lives in the Caribbean. | |
| There are fears that Dean, which has gathered pace over the last 24 hours, could hit Jamaica directly on Sunday. | There are fears that Dean, which has gathered pace over the last 24 hours, could hit Jamaica directly on Sunday. |
| Its prime minister has ordered emergency shelters to be opened. | Its prime minister has ordered emergency shelters to be opened. |
| The storm was upgraded from category 2 to 4 as winds reached speeds of 233km/h (145mph). It could reach the highest category of five by Monday. | |
| It is expected to reach Mexico on that day. | |
| See a detailed map of the region | See a detailed map of the region |
| Jamaica is expected to begin cancelling flights from Saturday evening and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website advises travellers to check with their tour operators if they intend to travel. | Jamaica is expected to begin cancelling flights from Saturday evening and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website advises travellers to check with their tour operators if they intend to travel. |
| On Friday Dean wreaked devastation as it ripped through the holiday islands of St Lucia and Martinique, leaving holidaymakers to take refuge in shelters. | On Friday Dean wreaked devastation as it ripped through the holiday islands of St Lucia and Martinique, leaving holidaymakers to take refuge in shelters. |
| 'Crushed' | 'Crushed' |
| The Federation of Tour Operators said it was closely monitoring the hurricane's progress. | The Federation of Tour Operators said it was closely monitoring the hurricane's progress. |
| Its director, Andy Cooper, said it was "quite possible" that arrivals to Jamaica would be affected over the weekend. | Its director, Andy Cooper, said it was "quite possible" that arrivals to Jamaica would be affected over the weekend. |
| He estimated there are around 5,000 British tourists currently in Jamaica. | He estimated there are around 5,000 British tourists currently in Jamaica. |
| But the FTO said it was unlikely there would be any mass evacuation. | But the FTO said it was unlikely there would be any mass evacuation. |
| We are just getting ready. Filling up the bath with water, unplugging all the computers at work and covering them with polythene bags. Taping the windows. John Townend, Kingston, Jamaica BBC News website reader Hurricane Dean: Readers' updates In pictures | We are just getting ready. Filling up the bath with water, unplugging all the computers at work and covering them with polythene bags. Taping the windows. John Townend, Kingston, Jamaica BBC News website reader Hurricane Dean: Readers' updates In pictures |
| Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller called for a halt to campaigning for the elections on 27 August. | Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller called for a halt to campaigning for the elections on 27 August. |
| "Let us band together and unite in the threat of this hurricane," the prime minister said. | "Let us band together and unite in the threat of this hurricane," the prime minister said. |
| In Dominica, a landslide crushed a woman and her seven-year-old son while they slept in their home. | In Dominica, a landslide crushed a woman and her seven-year-old son while they slept in their home. |
| In St Lucia, a 62-year-old man was swept away and drowned when he tried to retrieve a cow from a rain-swollen river. | In St Lucia, a 62-year-old man was swept away and drowned when he tried to retrieve a cow from a rain-swollen river. |
| Forecasters warn this could be an unusually active Atlantic storm season. | Forecasters warn this could be an unusually active Atlantic storm season. |
| In the US, Louisiana has declared a state of emergency, amid heightened sensitivity to hurricanes after Katrina flooded New Orleans in 2005. | In the US, Louisiana has declared a state of emergency, amid heightened sensitivity to hurricanes after Katrina flooded New Orleans in 2005. |
| However, the chances of the storm hitting the state are slim. | However, the chances of the storm hitting the state are slim. |
| The neighbouring state of Texas has categorised Dean as an imminent threat. | The neighbouring state of Texas has categorised Dean as an imminent threat. |
| Return | Return |