Plea ignored as hurricane hits islands

Many residents ignored the call, while tourists holed up in resorts with hurricane-proof walls.

The first hurricane of the Atlantic storm season, which had killed eight people on its march across the Caribbean, triggered evacuation calls from the Cayman Islands to Texas, and forced the Space Shuttle to cut short its mission.

Tourists in Jamaica could not get away before airports shut on Saturday night. The island was spared a direct hit when Dean’s eye passed just to the south last night.

Police had a shootout with looters at a shopping centre, but nobody was hurt .

Assistant Commissioner of Police Linval Bailey said curfews were in effect until this evening.

Authorities cut power on the island to prevent damage to the power grid.

The roof of a prison block was partially torn off and some inmates had to be moved. None escaped.

Dean blew the roofs off homes, caused landslides and flooded roads. The government set up more than 1,000 shelters in converted schools, churches and the indoor sports arena. But only 47 were occupied as the storm hit.

Authorities urged people to take cover from the storm, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, which could dump up to 20in of rain.

“For the last time, I’m asking you to leave or you will be in danger,” Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller urged residents.

Tourists sheltered at Sandals Whitehouse, a resort with buildings capable of withstanding a powerful storm. Forecasters predicted Dean would hit the Cayman Islands head-on, but now say it will just miss.