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Hurricane Sandy brings torrential rain to Jamaica Hurricane Sandy brings torrential rain to Jamaica
(about 1 hour later)
Jamaicans have taken refuge in shelters and their homes as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall near the capital, Kingston. Jamaicans have taken refuge in shelters and their homes as Hurricane Sandy sweeps across the island after making landfall near the capital, Kingston.
Heavy rains and sustained winds of 125km/h (80mph) are pounding the island's south coast, according to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC). Heavy rains and sustained winds of 125km/h (80mph) are pounding the island, according to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC).
Schools and airports are closed, and a curfew has been imposed in major towns to keep people safe and deter looting. Schools and airports are closed, and a curfew has been imposed in major towns to keep people safe and deter looters.
Forecasters warned the category one hurricane could strengthen further.Forecasters warned the category one hurricane could strengthen further.
The NHC said Sandy was moving north across Jamaica at about 20km/h. Tropical storm conditions were also expected to hit Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas before reaching Florida's east coast. The NHC said Sandy has moved north across Jamaica at about 20km/h and emerged off its northern coast near the town of Port Antonio.
Tropical storm conditions were also expected to hit Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas before reaching Florida's east coast.
"These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas of mountainous terrain," the NHC said in a statement.
Crocodiles
In some southern towns, crocodiles were caught in rushing floodwaters, which carried them out of mangrove thickets, the Associated Press reports.
One big croc was washed into a family's front yard in the city of Portmore, according to the news agency.
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson cut short a visit to Canada and flew home before the island's international airports shut down.Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson cut short a visit to Canada and flew home before the island's international airports shut down.
Leaks "This is a very serious storm. The government takes the threat seriously and I call on all Jamaicans to do likewise and prepare to face the enormous risks that this type of weather system can bring," she said.
The number of people seeking refuge in shelters is rising, according to Ronald Jackson, the head of Jamaica's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.The number of people seeking refuge in shelters is rising, according to Ronald Jackson, the head of Jamaica's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.
"We now have over 437 persons in emergency shelters though those numbers could be higher at this time," he said."We now have over 437 persons in emergency shelters though those numbers could be higher at this time," he said.
The country's meteorological service expressed its concern over damage from mudslides and flash floods.
Much of the island's infrastructure is in a poor state of repair, and a lack of effective planning regulation has resulted in homes being built close to embankments and gullies.Much of the island's infrastructure is in a poor state of repair, and a lack of effective planning regulation has resulted in homes being built close to embankments and gullies.
On Tuesday, a resident of Standpipe, one of the poorer quarters of Kingston, was trying to complete repairs to a roof which leaks badly even during a lesser downpour.On Tuesday, a resident of Standpipe, one of the poorer quarters of Kingston, was trying to complete repairs to a roof which leaks badly even during a lesser downpour.
"We don't have much time," said Andre Howt. "We heard on the radio that the hurricane was coming this way. We'll be getting wet.""We don't have much time," said Andre Howt. "We heard on the radio that the hurricane was coming this way. We'll be getting wet."
While Jamaica was ravaged by winds from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the eye of a hurricane hasn't crossed the island since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.While Jamaica was ravaged by winds from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the eye of a hurricane hasn't crossed the island since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.
Almost 50 people were killed by that storm, and the then Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, described the hardest hit areas near where Gilbert made landfall as looking "like Hiroshima after the atom bomb".Almost 50 people were killed by that storm, and the then Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, described the hardest hit areas near where Gilbert made landfall as looking "like Hiroshima after the atom bomb".