Hurricane warnings in Jamaica as tropical storm intensifies

Heavy rains and strong winds have struck the Caribbean island of Jamaica early this morning as the front edge of Tropical Storm Sandy hits the coast.

The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said that there is a strong possibility that the storm will turn into a hurricane forcing international airports to prepare for closure, cruise ships to change their itineraries and 48-hour curfews to be imposed by police to deter looting.

Jamaicans’ fear the arrival of Sandy with numerous poor persons residing in ramshackle shantytowns. Even wealthy persons in gated community and middle class persons feared the approaching storm.  

Jamaica’s meteorological service said that roughly 2.7 million inhabitants were at risk as Sandy could cause dangerous flash floods and mudslides.