18/07/2005

Thousands affected by latest hurricane to hit Caribbean

Hurricane Emily has touched down at Mexico's Caribbean coast, with experts predicting the storm could flare into a rare category five hurricane, similar to the one which devastated the region in 1988.

The hurricane, which is expected to make landfall in Mexico or southern Texas on Wednesday, has left a trail of death and destruction in its wake. Two pilots were killed in the Gulf of Mexico when gales downed their helicopter into the sea as they attempted to airlift workers from an offshore oil rig, while popular tourist resorts have been left deserted, as beachfront hotels boarded up their fronts against winds that are reported to be reaching 135mph.

Hurricane Emily missed Jamaica by 100 miles, but torrential rains caused floods which affected 70,000 households and left four dead, while the Cayman Islands also felt the force of the storm, as it passed on Sunday morning.

Mexico is taking the precaution of evacuating some 85,000 people across the country’s Yucatan region, who will be moved to safety in inland hotels.

The current storm comes only a week after Hurricane Dennis caused more than 24 deaths as it ravaged Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and areas of Florida.

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