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UK tourists take refuge from Dean UK tourists take refuge from Dean
(about 3 hours later)
British tourists in Jamaica are taking shelter from Hurricane Dean as the island feels the effects of the storm. British tourists in Jamaica have been taking shelter from Hurricane Dean as it battered the island, ripping up trees and causing widespread flooding.
Airports have been closed, some hotels evacuated and curfews imposed as the storm, with winds of up to 230km/h (145mph) hit the country's south coast.Airports have been closed, some hotels evacuated and curfews imposed as the storm, with winds of up to 230km/h (145mph) hit the country's south coast.
People had been urged to enter shelters on the island, where 5,000 Britons are believed to be holidaying. A state of emergency has been declared on the island, where some 5,000 Britons are believed to be holidaying.
Dean, which has wreaked havoc in the eastern Caribbean, began to hit Jamaica on Sunday night. Dean wreaked havoc in the eastern Caribbean and hit Jamaica on Sunday.
See a detailed map of the regionSee a detailed map of the region
Dean has already brought winds of 230km/h (145mph) and claimed at least six lives in the eastern Caribbean. The hurricane has already claimed at least six lives in the eastern Caribbean.
There have been no reports so far of casualties in Jamaica where authorities have declared a 30-day state of emergency.
Two Royal Navy ships are heading to the region to offer assistance.
Kirk Abrahams, from Radio Jamaica, said in Kingston power lines were down, poles and trees had fallen and several roads were blocked.
Several sections of the island were cut off by water or land slippages, he added.
We just ask people to be sensible and listen to the managers of the respective hotels Brian Roper, Beaches resorts Jamaicans feel hurricaneWe just ask people to be sensible and listen to the managers of the respective hotels Brian Roper, Beaches resorts Jamaicans feel hurricane
Forecasters say it may achieve the highest category, five, by the time it reaches Mexico on Monday. Forecasters say the hurricane 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. Both of Jamaica's main airports have been closed 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".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''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. In Jamaica, low-lying areas were evacuated and schools and churches 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 Me and my family are due to depart the island tomorrow... and we have no idea if we will be able to do so Victoria Malbon, Ocho Rios, 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. Victoria Malbon, a holidaymaker from Northern Ireland, was in a hotel in Ocho Rios, a town on the northern coast, when the hurricane hit.
"People are buying plywood to batten down their houses and cutting down trees if they can't get any. "Luckily enough, me and the rest of my family are safe," she said.
"People are also buying bricks to hold the roof of their houses down." She said hotel staff had done what they could to make guests feel safe, but she said she was concerned about the lack of information from airlines.
"Me and my family are due to depart the island tomorrow... and we have no idea if we will be able to do so," she said.
Another tourist Danny Thompson, from Thornton Heath, Surrey, who is staying in Montego Bay with his family, said people had prepared for the worst.
He said people had been buying plywood to batten down their houses, and if that was not available, they were cutting down trees.
'Monitoring progress''Monitoring progress'
But another UK holidaymaker, Michael Moore, said most people were relaxed. But another UK holidaymaker, Michael Moore, said most people had been relaxed before the storm hit
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. 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'."
Jamaicans have been advised to go to shelters on the islandJamaicans have been advised to go to shelters on the island
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.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 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".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.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.
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.
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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.
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