30 Aug 2008

Gustav batters Jamaica

5:59 am on 30 August 2008

Strong winds and heavy rain have been battering Jamaica as tropical storm Gustav makes its way across the island.

Power supplies have been interrupted and houses damaged.

More than 60 people were killed in the storm as it passed over the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Gustav is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane in the next few days.

Authorities in Louisiana, which is in the storm's projected track, have declared a state of emergency.

Evacuation plans are being drawn up in New Orleans, where more than 1500 people were killed three years ago by Hurricane Katrina.