Ivan arrives in British Caymans

The full extent of the damage to Jamaica is not yet known

Hurricane Ivan has hit the British Cayman Islands with 155mph winds causing flooding and damaging homes.

Roads have been blocked by debris, power lines are down and 20ft waves have been reported in coastal areas.

Up to 40,000 residents are in homes and shelters trying to ride out the storm, which killed at least 14 in Jamaica.

The Hurricane Hotline in Grand Cayman said: "We are now experiencing the full intensity of the storms and conditions are about as bad as they will get."

A spokesman said: "We are getting reports of homes being damaged, tiles missing and roofs lifting up."

Nobody had yet been injured, he said, but people were being advised to stay indoors.

Britons evacuated

Association of British Travel Agents spokesman Sean Tipton said that a small number of British holidaymakers had been evacuated from the Caymans.

Thousands of Britons have been moved from Grenada, Jamaica, parts of Cuba and Florida in recent days, he said.

On Saturday, 124 UK holidaymakers who had been evacuated from Grenada to the Dominican Republic arrived back on a British Airways flight from Barbados.

Mr Tipton said that of some 3,000 British tourists in Jamaica, around 2,000 had chosen to leave and were also flown to the Dominican Republic.

The majority of 5,000 Britons visiting Cuba were flown from the island or moved to the south coast out of Hurricane Ivan's predicted path.

A few thousand tourists on the west coast of Florida had also been moved, Mr Tipton said.

Flights home

"It has gone very smoothly and the reaction from customers has been favourable," he said.

"It is obviously not a pleasant situation, but they are very relieved that we have taken the situation very seriously and not just left them to their own devices."

We are about 250 miles behind the hurricane and gaining on it. We're awaiting our orders where to go next Captain Bill Butcher, on the Royal Navy supply ship Wave Ruler

He said that most people were continuing their holidays in alternative destinations but those that wished to return home would be given seats on the next available flights.

Adam Morrison, of tour operators My Travel, said that flights to bring people home would head out to the Dominican Republic on Sunday.

The hurricane, which has been graded the most dangerous level of category five, is predicted to reach Cuba on Monday followed by Florida.

Winds up to 190mph ripped through Jamaica, which is a popular holiday destination for British honeymooners.

The hurricane caused extensive flooding in towns and villages, tore up power lines and felled trees.

The island was spared the full impact though, the eye of the storm passing to the south west at about 0800 local time (1400 BST) on Saturday and failing to touch land.

The Foreign Office advised against all non-essential travel to Grenada, which was left devastated by Ivan earlier in the week.

British assistance

Two advisers from the Department for International Development are due to fly to Jamaica on Monday night, and later to the Cayman Islands, to discuss the details of humanitarian relief with UN and local officials.

Meanwhile, a Royal Navy ship and a supply vessel are en route to Jamaica to offer assistance after the storm has passed.

HMS Richmond and supply ship Wave Ruler were following the hurricane on its path across the Caribbean and awaiting instructions, after assisting in Grenada earlier in the week.

Captain Bill Butcher, of the Wave Ruler, said on Saturday: "We are about 250 miles behind the hurricane and gaining on it.

"We're awaiting our orders where to go next. The eye of the storm has skirted Jamaica but they may still need our help there, and our main point of interest may well be the British territory of the Cayman islands."

The Grenada High Commission in London is appealing for donations to a Disaster Relief Fund.

Anyone wishing to donate can call 0207 631 4275.