Hurricane Irene has already brought high winds and torrential rain to Puerto Rico, forcing a large number of cruise ships in the Caribbean, including five of Royal Caribbean’s fleet and Carnival Miracle, to alter their itineraries.
Power cuts affected large parts of the island, while an estimated 100,000 residents were left without water. Flights to and from the island have been cancelled and telephone services remain sporadic, although there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries. Hotels in the region have remained open, but holidaymakers due to travel in the coming days are advised to contact their tour operator.
The hurricane passed through the Domincan Republic and Haiti this morning, and is expected to gain strength before arriving in the Bahamas overnight. It is then expected to reach Florida on Friday, and Georgia and the Carolinas over the weekend.
Julian Heming, tropical prediction scientist for the Met Office, said: “While we have seen a lot of relatively short-lived and weak tropical storms over the North Atlantic this year, Irene is the first to develop into a hurricane.
“We expect it to pass across the Bahamas and continue to gain strength as it heads towards the US.”
The Foreign Office has advised British travellers to follow the advice of local authorities and to monitor local television and radio networks.
Source: The Telegraph.
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