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Hurricane batters Jamaica's south Hurricane batters Jamaica's south
(30 minutes later)
Trees have been uprooted and roofs ripped off houses in southern Jamaica, as Hurricane Dean's devastating journey through the Caribbean continues. Jamaica has taken a battering from Hurricane Dean, being hit by severe winds and heavy rain as the storm passed south of the island overnight.
PM Portia Simpson Miller declared a month-long state of emergency, widening the powers of security forces. The Category Four storm is pushing winds of up to 145mph (230km/h).
The storm, with winds of up to 230km/h (145mph), careered along the country's south coast, its eye passing some miles away out to sea. A Jamaican reporter told the BBC that many people who had chosen to remain in their homes were forced to flee, such was the severity of the storm.
Dean has already claimed at least six lives in the eastern Caribbean. Dean is now expected to pass close by the low-lying Cayman Islands, before hitting Mexico later on Monday.
Dean has already claimed at least six lives in the eastern Caribbean.
See a detailed map of the regionSee a detailed map of the region
Areas of the Cayman Islands and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula are being evacuated, amid meteorological reports the storm could intensify into a Category Five hurricane in the next few hours.
As of 0200 (0600GMT) Dean was located about 150 miles (240KM) south-east of Grand Cayman, travelling west at 20mph, the US National Hurricane Center reported.As of 0200 (0600GMT) Dean was located about 150 miles (240KM) south-east of Grand Cayman, travelling west at 20mph, the US National Hurricane Center reported.
It is predicted to pass just to the south of the Cayman Islands later on Monday and then continue on towards Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. The eye of the storm was some miles out to sea as it passed by Jamaica, but it still caused widespread damage as it careered along the south coast.
Areas of the Cayman Islands and Mexican coast are being evacuated, amid meteorological reports the storm could intensify into a Category Five hurricane in the next few hours. Trees have been uprooted and roofs ripped off houses in southern Jamaica, as Hurricane Dean's devastating journey through the Caribbean continues.
Hurricane Dean did not hit Jamaica directlyHurricane Dean did not hit Jamaica directly
Rhian Holder from Christian Aid described the scene in Jamaica to the BBC. PM Portia Simpson Miller declared a month-long state of emergency, widening the powers of security forces.
The country's general election was due to take place on 27 August, but the storm has cast doubt over that date.
Rhian Holder from Christian Aid described to the BBC the scene as the storm moved in:
"It's very, very loud, the wind is roaring and shrieking. The trees are breaking, you're hearing branches snapping, you're hearing thuds, things falling, you're not sure what it is.""It's very, very loud, the wind is roaring and shrieking. The trees are breaking, you're hearing branches snapping, you're hearing thuds, things falling, you're not sure what it is."
Kathy Barrett, of Radio Jamaica, told the BBC it had been "raining like crazy" in Kingston, but the storm had eased up towards midnight local time. As heavy rain began to fall, there were reports of mudslides north of Kingston and the St Mary area on the island's north-east coast.
'Forced to flee'
Kathy Barrett, of Radio Jamaica, told the BBC it had been "raining like crazy" in Kingston.
"I took a journey on to the streets of Kingston and saw huge trees, massive mango trees, coconut trees that have blocked the roads."I took a journey on to the streets of Kingston and saw huge trees, massive mango trees, coconut trees that have blocked the roads.
We are all boarded up sitting in the front room listening to the local radio and drinking wine Nick WilkinsGeorge Town, Grand CaymanBBC News website reader Dean: Readers' updates 'Up there with the biggest'We are all boarded up sitting in the front room listening to the local radio and drinking wine Nick WilkinsGeorge Town, Grand CaymanBBC News website reader Dean: Readers' updates 'Up there with the biggest'
"Power lines are down... we got a good beating from Hurricane Dean." "Power lines are down... we got a good beating from Hurricane Dean," she said.
Airports have been closed, a 48-hour curfew is in place and the island's power company has switched off electricity. Ahead of the storm the national electricity grid was turned off as a safety measure and the prime minister encouraged people in flood-prone areas to evacuate to the 400-500 emergency shelters which were opened across the island.
The US has said it is prepared to fly in aid if necessary. Many refused to leave, fearful their homes would be looted if left unguarded. However, Gary Spalding, senior reporter for Radio Jamaica, told the BBC that in the end the severity of the storm forced even those people to flee.
The country's general election was due to take place on 27 August, but the storm has cast doubt over that date. "Roofs have blown off and the place is in a devastated condition, so they have been forced to take shelter now," he said.
Earlier, the prime minister had encouraged people in flood-prone areas to take cover in emergency shelters.
But officials feared her warnings were going unheeded, with many people concerned their homes would be looted if they left.
Shuttle re-scheduledShuttle re-scheduled
About 1,000 emergency shelters were opened, but only a small number were occupied. Officials said about 3,000 of the country's 2.7 million people were using them. In the Cayman Islands a curfew has been imposed and tourists evacuated. Even though the hurricane is expected to pass to the south of the island the government said that it still posed a "significant threat".
As heavy rain began to fall, there were reports of mudslides north of Kingston and the St Mary area on the island's north-east coast. Tourists are also being evacuated from Cancun and other parts of the Mayan Riviera in Mexico ahead of Dean's arrival, which is predicted to hit late on Monday night and workers have been removed from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
We're dealing with a number of medical-related cases, as well as search-and-rescue cases due to collapsed structures Ronald JacksonJamaica's office for disaster preparedness In pictures: Hurricane Dean Animated guide: HurricanesWe're dealing with a number of medical-related cases, as well as search-and-rescue cases due to collapsed structures Ronald JacksonJamaica's office for disaster preparedness In pictures: Hurricane Dean Animated guide: Hurricanes
In the US, the return of the space shuttle Endeavour was brought forward by a day in a bid to beat the hurricane should it eventually reach Texas, where Nasa's mission control is based.In the US, the return of the space shuttle Endeavour was brought forward by a day in a bid to beat the hurricane should it eventually reach Texas, where Nasa's mission control is based.
Rough waves damaged buildings on the coast of the Dominican Republic and thousands of people were left without electricity and took refuge in schools and churches on the Haitian island of Gonave. When the hurricane passed through eastern parts of the Caribbean at the weekend rough waves damaged buildings on the coast of the Dominican Republic and thousands of people were left without electricity and took refuge in schools and churches on the Haitian island of Gonave.
Six deaths have been confirmed as a result of Dean:Six deaths have been confirmed as a result of Dean:
  • A boy was swept out to sea and drowned in the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo
  • A boy was swept out to sea and drowned in the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo
  • In Martinique, a woman in her early 80s died of a suspected heart attack during the hurricane's passage while a man died after sustaining a fall
  • In Martinique, a woman in her early 80s died of a suspected heart attack during the hurricane's passage while a man died after sustaining a fall
  • 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
  • A man aged 62 was swept away and drowned when he tried to retrieve a cow from a rain-swollen river
  • A man aged 62 was swept away and drowned when he tried to retrieve a cow from a rain-swollen river
    • Are you in the Caribbean? Have you been affected by Hurricane Dean or are you preparing for it to pass? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the Caribbean? Have you been affected by Hurricane Dean or are you preparing for it to pass? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.
    At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
    Find out more about how to send your pictures and to read terms and conditionsFind out more about how to send your pictures and to read terms and conditions
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