BBC - Saturday, 6 October, 2001, 23:32 GMT 00:32 UK Iris blows up a Caribbean storm

Iris struck the Dominican Republic on Saturday

Hurricane warnings have gone out in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba as tropical storm Iris gathers strength as it approaches them.

A hurricane watch has also been put into effect on the Cayman Islands.

Winds have been put at 105km/h (65mph), and have caused tidal surges in the Dominican Republic of more than 1.2 metres ( 4 to 5 feet).

At 1800GMT on Saturday, the centre of the storm was some 450km (275km) east-south-east of Kingston, Jamaica.

A spokesman for the National hurricane Centre in Miami, Richard Knabb, said: "As it gets into open water, we expect it to develop more rapidly."

Residents in southern Haiti were advised to seek shelter, and boats recommended not to leave port.

Shelters

In the Dominican Republic, more than 100 hurricane shelters were opened in schools and government buildings.

Iris started on Thursday as a tropical depression that brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to the islands of St Vincent and St Lucia, but caused no significant damage or loss of life.

A tropical storm is classified as a hurricane if maximum winds reach 119km/h (74mph).

The hurricane season in the Caribbean occurs from June to the end of November.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2001

Answers

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2001