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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| British tourists braced for Dean | British tourists braced for Dean |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| British tourists in Jamaica are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Dean, which has already wreaked havoc across the eastern Caribbean. | British tourists in Jamaica are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Dean, which has already wreaked havoc across the eastern Caribbean. |
| Airports have been closed on the island, where some 5,000 Britons are believed to be holidaying. | Airports have been closed on the island, where some 5,000 Britons are believed to be holidaying. |
| There are fears that Dean could hit Jamaica directly on Sunday. It has already claimed four lives. | There are fears that Dean could hit Jamaica directly on Sunday. It has already claimed four lives. |
| Some hotels have already been evacuated, curfews imposed, and people urged to enter shelters. | Some hotels have already been evacuated, curfews imposed, and people urged to enter shelters. |
| The Foreign Office has warned against all travel to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and all but essential travel to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. | |
| See a detailed map of the region | See a detailed map of the region |
| Hurricane Dean is building up strength as it passes through the region. In Jamaica schools, churches and the indoor national sports arena have been converted into shelters. | Hurricane Dean is building up strength as it passes through the region. In Jamaica schools, churches and the indoor national sports arena have been converted into 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. | 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. |
| It is likely to bring winds of about 150 (240km) miles an hour, and up to 20in (50cm) of rain. | It is likely to bring winds of about 150 (240km) miles an hour, and up to 20in (50cm) of rain. |
| 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. | 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 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." | "We have evacuated three of our hotels in Jamaica that we thought would be a little bit susceptible to storm surges." |
| British tourist Michael Moore in Jamaica told the BBC News website: " [I'm] currently holidaying in Manchester, Jamaica where there is more emphasis on the forthcoming elections than the fast-approaching hurricane. | British tourist Michael Moore in Jamaica told the BBC News website: " [I'm] currently holidaying in Manchester, Jamaica where there is more emphasis on the forthcoming elections than the fast-approaching hurricane. |
| "Jamaica is certainly living up to it's chilled out stereotype. I just hope if we are hit it'll be 'No Problem'." | "Jamaica is certainly living up to it's chilled out stereotype. I just hope if we are hit it'll be 'No Problem'." |
| Empty planes | 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." | 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 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| Meanwhile, all of Sunday's flights by FTO members to the Yucatan peninsula have been cancelled. | Meanwhile, all of Sunday's flights by FTO members to the Yucatan peninsula have been 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. |
| 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 to the Cayman Islands were being given the option to rebook or take their holidays in the Bahamas instead. |
| It is thought that Dean has claimed at least four lives so far. | It is thought that Dean has claimed at least four lives so far. |
| 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. |
| The huge size of Hurricane Dean can be seen from space | The huge size of Hurricane Dean can be seen from space |
| 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. |
| Forecasters warn this could be an unusually active Atlantic storm season. | Forecasters warn this could be an unusually active Atlantic storm season. |
| Return | Return |
| Are you a British tourist trapped in Jamaica? Or has your holiday been cancelled or delayed? Tell us your story here and we will publish a selection on this page. | |