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| Hurricane hits eastern Caribbean | Hurricane hits eastern Caribbean |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The first hurricane of the Atlantic storm season is buffeting the islands in the eastern Caribbean. | The first hurricane of the Atlantic storm season is buffeting the islands in the eastern Caribbean. |
| At 0900 GMT, the hurricane's centre was in the St Lucia Channel between St Lucia and Martinique, heading westwards at 24mph (39km/h). | At 0900 GMT, the hurricane's centre was in the St Lucia Channel between St Lucia and Martinique, heading westwards at 24mph (39km/h). |
| Reports from St Lucia said power was down and many trees had been uprooted. | Reports from St Lucia said power was down and many trees had been uprooted. |
| Hurricane Dean, with winds of 100mph (160km/h), is currently a Category Two storm but US forecasters expect it to strengthen over the next 24 hours. | Hurricane Dean, with winds of 100mph (160km/h), is currently a Category Two storm but US forecasters expect it to strengthen over the next 24 hours. |
| See a map of the hurricane | |
| "Buildings are still standing, roofs haven't come off," David Wallace in St Lucia told a Miami television station. | "Buildings are still standing, roofs haven't come off," David Wallace in St Lucia told a Miami television station. |
| "But it's devastating in terms of trees. Almost every tree is down here." | "But it's devastating in terms of trees. Almost every tree is down here." |
| "There is water in my house. There is water in my room. I don't know what to do. Everything is shaking, shaking, shaking. It's truly catastrophic," a woman said in a phone call to Radio Martinique. | "There is water in my house. There is water in my room. I don't know what to do. Everything is shaking, shaking, shaking. It's truly catastrophic," a woman said in a phone call to Radio Martinique. |
| Emergency meeting | Emergency meeting |
| The US National Hurricane Center has also issued hurricane warnings for Guadeloupe and Dominica, meaning hurricane conditions are possible within 24 hours. | The US National Hurricane Center has also issued hurricane warnings for Guadeloupe and Dominica, meaning hurricane conditions are possible within 24 hours. |
| Tropical storm warnings are in place for other islands in the eastern Caribbean, including Antigua, the British and US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. | Tropical storm warnings are in place for other islands in the eastern Caribbean, including Antigua, the British and US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. |
| In Dominica, the government cancelled leave for the emergency services and urged employers to send workers home early so they could prepare for the hurricane's arrival, Reuters reported. | In Dominica, the government cancelled leave for the emergency services and urged employers to send workers home early so they could prepare for the hurricane's arrival, Reuters reported. |
| Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has called an emergency meeting of the country's disaster preparedness committee for Friday to get ready for the hurricane, which could hit over the next week. | Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has called an emergency meeting of the country's disaster preparedness committee for Friday to get ready for the hurricane, which could hit over the next week. |
| name="anchor"> Image taken at 1300 GMT class="bodl" href="#back">Return | |
| Are you in the eastern Caribbean? Have you been affected by Hurricane Dean? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the eastern Caribbean? Have you been affected by Hurricane Dean? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. |
| Find out more about how to send your pictures | Find out more about how to send your pictures |