MIAMI, (AFP) - Two tropical storms raced toward the Caribbean and the US southern coast yesterday, forcing the evacuation of oil platforms and widespread hurricane alerts.

A hurricane watch was issued for northwestern Florida as tropical storm Bonnie gathered strength in the Gulf of Mexico, forcing US oil giant Chevron Texaco Corporation to evacuate 15 oil platforms and two drilling rigs.

About 630 employees were evacuated from the company's operations in the central and eastern parts of the Gulf of Mexico, said Chevron Texaco spokesman Matt Carmichael.

"More importantly, we have about 67,501 barrels of oil production per day that has been shut in, as well as 107,675 million cubic feet of natural gas per day that has been shut in," Carmichael said.

"We're already making accommodations to get our crews back off shore as soon as the okay is given by the National Weather Service and all of our safety concerns are addressed," he added.

Authorities also issued a hurricane watch for the Florida Keys, as forecasts, which are subject to significant margins of error, showed Hurricane Charley could strengthen and eventually hit the chain of islands south of Miami.

A hurricane watch means sustained winds of 119 kilometres (74 miles) per hour associated with a hurricane are possible within 36 hours in a specified coastal region.

A hurricane warning was also issued for the Cayman Islands, while parts of Cuba were under a hurricane watch as Charley strengthen yesterday.

In the meantime, the US Coast Guard urged mariners to monitor the storms closely and take early action to protect their vessels.

"Because of the uncertainty of weather movements and related bridge closures, mariners should seek early passage through drawbridges well in advance of the arrival of gale force winds," it said in a statement.

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