LIAT suspends flights as Hurricane Earl threatens Caribbean

Shipping also diverted

Sunday, August 29, 2010

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Islanders set up emergency shelters and canceled flights today as newly born Hurricane Earl churned toward the northern Caribbean. Cruise lines diverted ships to avoid the storm's path.

The United States National Hurricane Centre in Miami said that Earl, with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour (120 kilometres per hour), could hit the northern Leeward Islands as soon as tonight. It could become a major hurricane by Tuesday — probably while north of Puerto Rico.

People on several islands stuffed shopping carts with bottled water, canned food, milk, candles and batteries, while some tourists scrambled to board flights home. Others enjoyed the beach while they could.

"I'm just trying get a good suntan in while the weather is still cooperating," said Linda Curren of New York City, sunbathing on San Juan's Ocean Park beach as a few surfers paddled into pounding waves.

In Antigua, the VC Bird International Airport was set to close Sunday, while regional airline LIAT suspended several flights. Cruise ships diverted to other ports in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Hardware stores were doing a brisk business in plywood and boards as jittery residents and employees of gleaming tourist hotels prepared to safeguard windows and doors.

"We haven't been hit for quite a few years, but you may never know — this might be the time," said Ashley Benta, from the Antiguan town of Gray's Farm.

Fishermen and yacht owners tied down vessels in harbors scattered the northern Caribbean.

"We're watching and waiting at this point," said June Otway, a manager of Puerto Del Rey, a 1,100-slip marina in northeastern Puerto Rico.

Earl could bring battering waves and storm surge of up to three feet (one metre) above normal tide levels in some areas, according to forecasters. Heavy rains could cause flash floods and mudslides. Forecasters said Earl had several bands of thunderstorms wrapped around its center.

Near midday today, Earl was about 225 miles (360km) east of Antigua. Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 30 miles (45km) from its centre.