13/09/2004

Cuba braces itself for arrival of Hurricane Ivan

Cayman Island residents have become the latest casualties of hurricane Ivan's destructive forces as it continues to power its way towards Cuba. Much of the main island, Grand Cayman and its international airport runway are submerged under water. Winds reached up to 155mph during the storm and caused extensive damage - ripping off roofs and collapsing houses.

Donnie Ebanks, deputy chairman of the British territory's National Hurricane Committee estimated that as many as half of Grand Cayman's 15,000 homes were damaged.

Ivan is now on course for Cuba, where experts believe it may hit the western side of the island.

President Fidel Castro said the government was doing everything possible to prepare for Ivan's arrival, while 1.3 million residents have been evacuated from those areas expected to be hardest hit.

Meanwhile in Jamaica, the clean-up operation is underway. Flooding continues to cause major disruption and some parts of the island are without electricity and water.

The death toll for the Carribean islands is now said to have reached at least 65.

Reports from the Met Office warn that wind speeds are expected to exceed 160mph, while gusts will be even more ferocious and render Ivan a category 5 storm.

(MMCG/GMCG)

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