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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Caribbean storm gathers strength | Caribbean storm gathers strength |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Dean has strengthened to a category three "major" storm, pounding the eastern Caribbean with winds in excess of 177km/h (110 mph). | |
| The US National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm as it hit St Lucia and Martinique, killing a man, ripping roofs off homes and uprooting trees. | The US National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm as it hit St Lucia and Martinique, killing a man, ripping roofs off homes and uprooting trees. |
| Landslides have also been reported in Martinique, leaving hundreds homeless. | Landslides have also been reported in Martinique, leaving hundreds homeless. |
| The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is now heading towards Jamaica and could reach category four status. | |
| Telephone and power lines are down, they're strewn all over the road, trees are uprooted and are blocking the roads Martinique resident | Telephone and power lines are down, they're strewn all over the road, trees are uprooted and are blocking the roads Martinique resident |
| US forecasters warned that the storm could reach the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday, threatening the US-Mexico border region. | US forecasters warned that the storm could reach the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday, threatening the US-Mexico border region. |
| Workers on oil and natural gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were evacuated to safety on Friday, officials said. | Workers on oil and natural gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were evacuated to safety on Friday, officials said. |
| 'Truly catastrophic' | 'Truly catastrophic' |
| At 1745 GMT, the hurricane's centre was located about 280km (175 miles) west of Martinique, moving west at about 35km/h (22mph). | At 1745 GMT, the hurricane's centre was located about 280km (175 miles) west of Martinique, moving west at about 35km/h (22mph). |
| Residents on the island of Martinique reported landslides and flooding, as the eye of the storm passed through the narrow St Lucia Channel. | Residents on the island of Martinique reported landslides and flooding, as the eye of the storm passed through the narrow St Lucia Channel. |
| Many roads are blocked by debris and uprooted trees | Many roads are blocked by debris and uprooted trees |
| "In one village, telephone and power lines are down, they're strewn all over the road, trees are uprooted and are blocking the roads," Heraldine Rock, a former MP, told Reuters. | "In one village, telephone and power lines are down, they're strewn all over the road, trees are uprooted and are blocking the roads," Heraldine Rock, a former MP, told Reuters. |
| "In another village, a landslide has been reported, cutting off any access to the airport." | "In another village, a landslide has been reported, cutting off any access to the airport." |
| A caller to Radio Martinique said: "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 caller to Radio Martinique said: "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." |
| Earlier, the storm claimed its first victim on the island of St Lucia, where a 62-year-old man drowned after being swept away in a swollen river while trying to save a cow. | Earlier, the storm claimed its first victim on the island of St Lucia, where a 62-year-old man drowned after being swept away in a swollen river while trying to save a cow. |
| State radio reported flooding in the capital, Castries. | State radio reported flooding in the capital, Castries. |
| Emergency meeting | Emergency meeting |
| Jamaica's prime minister called an emergency meeting of the country's disaster preparedness committee in anticipation of the hurricane, which could hit over the weekend. | Jamaica's prime minister called an emergency meeting of the country's disaster preparedness committee in anticipation of the hurricane, which could hit over the weekend. |
| Tropical storm warnings are in place for the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and St Maarten and Grenada. | Tropical storm warnings are in place for the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and St Maarten and Grenada. |
| No substantial damage was reported in Dominica, where the government had cancelled leave for the emergency services. | No substantial damage was reported in Dominica, where the government had cancelled leave for the emergency services. |
| 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 |