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Hurricane Sandy: Florida coastline under storm warning | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Hurricane Sandy has swept north over the Bahamas towards the US, having killed at least two people as it tore through Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba. | |
Schools, offices, airports and bridges had closed across the Bahamas as residents stocked up on supplies. | |
Forecasters warn the storm could pose a major threat to the US East Coast. | |
With maximum sustained winds of 165km/h (105mph) Sandy was moving north at 20mph over Cat Island, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). | With maximum sustained winds of 165km/h (105mph) Sandy was moving north at 20mph over Cat Island, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). |
Florida was already being lashed by heavy rain and high winds late on Thursday - as of 1700 EDT (2100 GMT), the state was under a tropical storm warning. | |
Some US broadcasters are already referring to Sandy as The Halloween Hurricane - or even Frankenstorm - as it is expected to bring coastal flooding and power outages around All Hallow's Eve - on 31 October. | |
The storm is expected to head north-west at a slower pace overnight into Friday, getting gradually larger all the while. | |
It is forecast to weaken, but remain a hurricane during the next 48 hours, said the NHC. | |
Guantanamo battered | |
On Wednesday, Sandy had caused a storm surge leading to severe flooding along Cuba's south-eastern coastline. | |
In the popular tourist destination of Santiago de Cuba, the island's second-largest city, tv footage showed fallen trees, damaged buildings and debris-choked streets. | In the popular tourist destination of Santiago de Cuba, the island's second-largest city, tv footage showed fallen trees, damaged buildings and debris-choked streets. |
More than 50,000 people had been moved from their homes in the city as a precaution. | More than 50,000 people had been moved from their homes in the city as a precaution. |
Strong winds and rain also battered the US naval base and detention facility at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, confining some workers to their quarters and prompting a number of prisoners to be moved to safer accommodation. | Strong winds and rain also battered the US naval base and detention facility at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, confining some workers to their quarters and prompting a number of prisoners to be moved to safer accommodation. |
In Jamaica earlier, more than 1,000 people sought refuge in shelters as Sandy caused widespread power outages, flooded streets and damaged buildings. | In Jamaica earlier, more than 1,000 people sought refuge in shelters as Sandy caused widespread power outages, flooded streets and damaged buildings. |
A 48-hour curfew was imposed in the island's major towns to deter the looting that had accompanied previous storms. | A 48-hour curfew was imposed in the island's major towns to deter the looting that had accompanied previous storms. |
Sandy has left devastation in its wake as it moved north, killing an elderly man in Jamaica when a boulder fell on a house and reportedly resulting in the drowning of a woman trying to cross a swollen river in Haiti. | Sandy has left devastation in its wake as it moved north, killing an elderly man in Jamaica when a boulder fell on a house and reportedly resulting in the drowning of a woman trying to cross a swollen river in Haiti. |
Are you in the path of Hurricane Sandy or have you already been affected by it? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the path of Hurricane Sandy or have you already been affected by it? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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