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Britons in Jamaica travel warning Britons in Jamaica travel warning
(about 4 hours later)
The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Jamaica and the Caymans because of Hurricane Dean, which has claimed four lives in the Caribbean.The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Jamaica and the Caymans because of Hurricane Dean, which has claimed four 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 could hit Jamaica directly on Sunday.
Its prime minister has ordered emergency shelters to be opened. There are an estimated 5,000 UK tourists in Jamaica. Some hotels have been evacuated, and people are expected to go into shelters.
The storm was upgraded from category 2 to 4 as winds reached speeds of 230km/h (145mph). It could reach the highest category of five by Monday. The Foreign Office is also warning against all but essential travel to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.
It is expected to reach Mexico on that day.
See a detailed map of the regionSee a detailed map of the region
Jamaican authorities have closed airports, cancelled flights and imposed curfews. Schools, churches and the indoor national sports arena have been converted into shelters. Hurricane Dean is building up strength as it passes through the Caribbean.
On Friday, Dean wreaked devastation as it ripped through the holiday islands of St Lucia and Martinique, leaving holidaymakers to take refuge in shelters. We just ask people to be sensible and listen to the managers of the respective hotels Brian Roper, Beaches resorts Forecasters say it may achieve the highest category, five, by the time it reaches Mexico on Monday.
'Crushed' It is likely to bring winds of about 150 (240km) miles an hour, and up to 20in (50cm) of rain.
Meanwhile, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has revised its travel advice, advising against all travel to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands until further notice, and all but essential travel to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Jamaican authorities have closed airports, cancelled flights and imposed curfews.
Brian Roper, director of operations for the Beaches chain of resorts on the island, said his firm had done its best to reassure its guests.
"We just ask people to be sensible and listen to the managers of the respective hotels.
"We have evacuated three of our hotels in Jamaica that we thought would be a little bit susceptible to storm surges."
Empty planes
The Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) said it was closely monitoring the hurricane's progress.The Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) said it was closely monitoring the hurricane's progress.
Director Andy Cooper said that rather than stage a mass evacuation, "it is our intention to leave customers there and they will go into shelters in accordance with local procedures."
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 picturesWe 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
Its director, Andy Cooper, said it was "quite possible" that arrivals to Jamaica would be affected over the weekend. First Choice holidays said its next flight to the region was bound for Jamaica on Tuesday, when the hurricane is expected to have moved on.
He estimated there are around 5,000 British tourists currently in Jamaica, but said it was unlikely there would be any mass evacuation. Meanwhile, all of Sunday's flights by FTO members to the Yucatan peninsula have been cancelled.
Instead, Mr Cooper said: "It is our intention to leave customers there and they will go into shelters in accordance with local procedures."
A spokesman for First Choice holidays said its next flight to the region was bound for Jamaica on Tuesday, when the hurricane is expected to have moved away from the island.
Meanwhile, all of Sunday's flights by FTO members to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula - also in Dean's path - were cancelled.
Those planes will instead travel to the region empty and bring back British tourists due to leave.Those planes will instead travel to the region empty and bring back British tourists due to leave.
Elsewhere, the government of the Cayman Islands has announced that only nationals and residents can enter until further notice. British Airways said any UK tourists due to go to the Cayman Islands were being given the option to rebook or take their holidays in the Bahamas instead.
British Airways said any UK tourists due to go there were being given the option to rebook or take their holidays in the Bahamas instead.
Unusually active
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," she said.
It is thought that Dean has claimed at least four lives.It is thought that Dean has claimed at least four lives.
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.
Most people in Martinique sat out the storm on FridayMost people in Martinique sat out the storm on Friday
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.
And a boy was reported drowned and several other people injured in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.And a boy was reported drowned and several other people injured in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.
In Jamaica schools, churches and the indoor national sports arena have been converted into shelters.
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.
However, the chances of the storm hitting the state are slim.
The neighbouring state of Texas has categorised Dean as an imminent threat.
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