Ivan skirts Grand Cayman
12/09/2004 17:11-(SA)
Jay Ehrhart
Georgetown - Hurricane Ivan skirted Grand Cayman with winds of almost 250km/h on Sunday, uprooting trees, bursting the banks of canals and flooding some homes on the island as it churned towards Cuba.
The hurricane, which had grown to the most powerful Category 5 storm with 265km/h winds on Saturday, lost some strength as it approached the wealthy and well-built Cayman Islands, which appeared likely to escape its brunt.
Little damage was reported as Ivan's shrieking winds and driving rain closed in on Grand Cayman.
But Ivan still was capable of causing tremendous damage and could strengthen.
The storm has been blamed for 56 deaths across the Caribbean so far, including 34 in Grenada and 11 in Jamaica.
Millions more people are in its path, with Ivan projected to make a direct hit on Cuba before it moves into the Gulf of Mexico or South Florida on Monday.
Mandatory evacuation orders for tourists and 79000 residents were in effect for the Florida Keys amid fears that Ivan would strike hard on the heels of hurricanes Charley and Frances.
The storm stalked Jamaica's southern coast on Saturday, never directly hitting the island, but pounding it with monstrous waves and torrential rains, and may do the same with the Caymans.
Maximum sustained winds were near 250km/h ? just under the speed that would make it a Category 5 storm.
"We are looking at potentially catastrophic conditions," James Ryan, chair of the Cayman Islands national hurricane committee said.
Hundreds of people left the Caymans before the hurricane came and most of the 150 residents of Little Cayman were brought to the big island.
Officials reported 3000 people had filled all shelters on Grand Cayman and about 750 in Cayman Brac island were in shelters.
Many people in Cayman Brac had fled to caves that historically have provided shelter from bad hurricanes.
"I don't have word from people from the caves. But I'm not worried about them at all," district commissioner Kenny Ryan told Cayman radio.
In Cuba, President Fidel Castro said his government had mobilised to save lives and property as the hurricane moved toward the western part of the island.
Almost 500000 people across the island of 11.2 million were evacuated by Saturday evening.
Jamaica, an island of 2.6 million, was saved from a direct hit when the hurricane unexpectedly wobbled and lurched to the west.
But it still suffered heavy damage as 7.5m waves crashed onto beachfronts, destroying homes and toppling trees.
Police killed two alleged looters and four officers were wounded in shootouts with armed looters, officials said. Jamaicans largely ignored government pleas for 500000 people to flee flood-prone areas.
Only 5000 were in shelters as Ivan came within 55 kilometres of the capital, Kingston.