Omar heads for Virgin Islands

2008-10-15 17:20

Miami - Hurricane Omar moved toward the Virgin Islands on Wednesday gaining power as warnings were issued across the Caribbean over the latest storm.

With its centre around 495km southwest of Puerto Rico's capital San Juan, the US National Hurricane Centre said: "Additional strengthening is forecast in the next 24 to 36 hours."

The hurricane - with maximum sustained winds of near 120km/h - was moving slowly northeast toward San Juan.

Hurricane warnings were issued for the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Saint Martin, Anguilla and Saint Kitts.

"A hurricane warning could be required for Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning," the NHC said.

On the forecast track, the centre of Omar was expected to move over or near the Leeward Islands - just east of Puerto Rico - by late on Wednesday, the NHC said.

Authorities also issued a hurricane warning for the French resort island of Saint Barthelemy, and tropical storm warnings for Antigua, Barbuda and Montserrat.

Heavy rain was already falling across far northern Venezuela, where it could produce total rainfall of up to 15cm, the NHC said.

Up to 51cm of rain "will be possible across Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands", the NHC said.

"These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," it warned.

The busy 2008 hurricane season has included devastating hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which caused millions of dollars in damage in Haiti, Cuba and the United States.

Hurricanes and tropical storms have killed hundreds across the Caribbean and Mexico, with Haiti the worst hit.

- AFP