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Hurricane Sandy: Florida coastline under storm warning | Hurricane Sandy: Florida coastline under storm warning |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Hurricane Sandy has swept north over the Bahamas towards the US, having reportedly killed some 20 people as it tore through Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. | |
Schools, offices, airports and bridges had closed across the Bahamas as residents stocked up on supplies. | 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. | Forecasters warn the storm could pose a major threat to the US East Coast. |
Early on Friday, Sandy had dropped to a category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph), said the US National Hurricane Center. | |
It was moving north at about 13 mph centred between Cat Island and Eleuthera in the central Bahamas about 185 miles south-east of Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. | |
Florida was already being lashed by heavy rain and high winds, with the coastal state being put under a tropical storm warning. | |
"We're looking for tropical-storm force winds along the coast and then some very dangerous surf conditions over the next couple of days," said James Franklin, the NHC's chief hurricane forecaster. | |
"So we can't really emphasise enough to keep people out of the water, the winds are going to be very strong." | |
Some US broadcasters were already referring to Sandy as The Halloween Hurricane - or even Frankenstorm, due to the possibility of it blending with a winter storm over the United States - as it was expected to bring coastal flooding and power outages around All Hallow's Eve - on 31 October. | |
The storm was expected to head north-west at a slower pace on Friday, getting gradually larger all the while. | |
Although it is forecast to weaken, the NHC said it would likely remain a hurricane during the next 48 hours. | |
Guantanamo battered | Guantanamo battered |
Earlier on Thursday Sandy had caused a storm surge leading to severe flooding along Cuba's south-eastern coastline. | |
Civil emergency authorities revealed 11 people died as the storm lashed the communist island - nine of those in Santiago de Cuba, the island's second-largest city. | |
TV footage of the popular tourist destination showed fallen trees, toppled houses 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, delaying a hearing and prompting a number of prisoners to be moved to safer accommodation. | |
Elsewhere, nine deaths were reported in Haiti - where much of the infrastructure remains in a very poor condition following a massive earthquake in 2010. | |
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. |
One elderly Jamaican was killed when a boulder fell on his house. | |
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. |
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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