Natural disasters Hurricane strengthens over Cayman Islands 08/11/08 14:35 CET

A hurricane has gathered strength over the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean and is heading towards Cuba. Officials are warning that Hurricane Paloma has become extremely dangerous, with winds of up to 220 kilometres an hour. It has been upgraded to a Category Four hurricane, on a scale of one to five in terms of strength.

Businesses, schools and government offices closed down and residents boarded up their homes. Cuba has already suffered billion of euros in damage from two hurricane’s this year, and it is bracing itself for more misery. Officials say they have begun to evacuate people from areas prone to flooding.