This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6952993.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| UK tourists take refuge from Dean | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British tourists in Jamaica are taking shelter from Hurricane Dean as the island begins to feel the effects of the approaching storm. | |
| Airports have been closed, some hotels evacuated and curfews imposed. | |
| People are being urged to enter shelters on the island, where 5,000 Britons are believed to be holidaying. | |
| Dean, which has wreaked havoc in the eastern Caribbean, began to hit Jamaica directly on Sunday night. It has already claimed at least six lives. | |
| See a detailed map of the region | See a detailed map of the region |
| The island sits right in Dean's path and meteorologists warn the storm could have "potentially catastrophic" results. | |
| It is building up strength as it passes through the region and is expected to bring winds of 145mph (230km/h) and up to 20in (50cm) of rain. | |
| We just ask people to be sensible and listen to the managers of the respective hotels Brian Roper, Beaches resorts class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6954296.stm">Jamaicans feel hurricane | |
| Forecasters say it may achieve the highest category, five, by the time it reaches Mexico on Monday. | |
| Both of Jamaica's main airports were closed on Saturday and the Foreign Office has warned against all travel to the island as well as the Cayman Islands and all but essential travel to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. | |
| Virgin Atlantic said its next flight to Jamaica, due to leave on Monday morning, would be delayed until it was clear the airport was "clear and undamaged". | |
| 'No panic' | |
| In Jamaica, low-lying areas are being evacuated and schools and churches have been converted into emergency shelters for those with nowhere else to stay. | |
| 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 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 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 Danny Thompson, 39, from Thornton Heath, Surrey, who is staying in Montego Bay with his family, said people were preparing for the worst. | |
| "People are buying plywood to batten down their houses and cutting down trees if they can't get any. | |
| "People are also buying bricks to hold the roof of their houses down." | |
| 'Monitoring progress' | |
| But another UK holidaymaker, Michael Moore, said most people were relaxed. | |
| He 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'." |
| The huge size of Hurricane Dean can be seen from space | |
| David Marshall, from the Association of British Travel Agents, told BBC News 24 almost 5,000 UK holidaymakers were on the island despite it being hurricane season. | |
| "The hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June until November but it's a very popular destination with UK holidaymakers," he added. | |
| 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". | |
| The federation was working with local authorities and the Foreign Office to make sure all British holidaymakers were safe, he added. | |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |