Tropical storm Sandy bears down on Jamaica: flights and cruises cancelled
Jamaica has closed its international airports and cruise ships have cancelled stops at the island as tropical storm Sandy heads its way.
British Airways was forced to cancel today’s flight from London to Kingston and Virgin Atlantic has delayed its departure from London to Montego Bay until 10.45 tomorrow.
There are fears that the storm will reach hurricane status by the time it passes over the island later today and spins into Cuba.
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, the world’s largest passenger ship, and three Carnival ships – the Valor, Pride and Glory, are all moving out of harm’s way.
Allure of the Seas has cancelled its call at Falmouth in Jamaica today, which it will spend at sea instead. Valor has skipped Montego Bay in Jamaica and cancelled its call at Grand Cayman. Instead it is heading straight to Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.
Carnival Pride has skipped calls at Half Moon Cay and Freeport today and tomorrow and is calling at Port Canaveral in Florida on Friday.
Glory is missing Freeport and cutting short a stay in Nassau today and adding a stop at Port Canaveral on Friday.
The storm, the 18th of the hurricane season, is expected to dump 25cms of rain on Jamaica, especially over central and eastern areas today. Police have ordered a 48 hour curfew in major towns to prevent looters.
By Gretchen Kelly and Linsey McNeill
Gretchen Kelly
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