Peter Greste: "Heavy rains and floods have already killed one person"

Warnings are in effect for Honduras from Limon to the Nicaraguan border and for Swan Island, which belongs to Honduras.

Hurricane Georges destroyed thousands of homes - Mitch is far stronger

Hurricane watchers are unsure when and where it will hit land, but with wind-speeds of more than 250 kmh (155mph) , it is already causing heavy rains, floods and high waves.

Forecasters say the storm is rated as a potentially catastrophic Grade Five.

Several other countries have taken precautionary measures such as evacuating low-lying areas, suspending air and sea traffic and closing government offices, schools and businesses.

Satellite picture of Hurricane Mitch from the National Hurricane Centre

Hurricane Mitch has already unleashed strong winds and heavy rain in Jamaica and flooded parts of the Cayman Islands.

The US National Hurricane Centre said: "Mitch is expected to remain a very dangerous hurricane capable of causing extreme damage."

Jamaican floods

In the Cayman Islands, a British colony of 28,000, schools remained closed on Monday.

As Mitch moved west, hurricane warnings were lifted for Jamaica and eastern Cuba.

But heavy rain still battered Jamaica where the authorities warned of mudslides and flash floods, especially in the mountains.

Prime Minister PJ Patterson appealed for calm as Jamaica's defence forces were put on alert.

On Sunday, Jamaicans preparing for the storms cleared shelves of bakery items, batteries and other goods at the few markets in the capital, Kingston, that had remained open.

During the storms, sheets of rain reduced visibility to a few yards.

Heavy rain caused flooding in Kingston and forced churches to cancel Sunday services. Several airlines stopped flights.