Hurricane Frances roared toward the Bahamas and the southeastern US after churning past Puerto Rico, bringing heavy surf and blustery winds to the US territory.
Frances strengthened to a dangerous Category 4 hurricane Tuesday, with sustained winds up to 225-kph. Still, Puerto Rico saw only moderate rain and winds, and lighting that knocked out electricity to about 17,000 people. No injuries were reported.
The storm was forecast to be passing near or over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas yesterday. Some residents in Turks and Caicos put up plywood on their windows. Others in the British territory hurried to buy emergency supplies, stocking up on bottled water and canned food.
The Bahamian government was urging people in the southeastern cays to move to larger islands, said Carl Smith, the national disaster coordinator. One of the most vulnerable islands was Great Inagua, with a population of about 600.
"We're reminding people to get water, food supplies and batteries, and to know what shelter is close to their residence," Smith said.
The Bahamian trade minister, Leslie Miller, threatened to revoke the licenses of any businesses that engage in price gouging. He said his agency has already been inundated with calls from people complaining businesses are hiking prices for plywood, light bulbs, batteries and water.
"We will shut you down," Miller warned at a news conference. `"It is against the law to jack up prices in times of a national crises ... We will not hesitate in fining them the US$5,000 and a year in jail if they chose to take advantage of our people in their time of need."
Hurricane warnings were in effect for the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, while a hurricane watch was in place for the central Bahamas.
A tropical storm warning was posted for the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami warned large and dangerous waves were possible along the north coast of Hispaniola, which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti.
At 11pm Tuesday, the hurricane was about 430km east of Grand Turk Island in Turks and Caicos. Frances was moving west-northwest at about 26kph.
Hurricane-force winds extended outward 110km from the center, while tropical storm-force winds extended 295m.
Forecasters warned US residents from Florida to the Carolinas to monitor Frances -- the third major hurricane of the Atlantic season, following Alex and Charley.
Carnival Cruise Lines said it had diverted four cruise ships. Royal Caribbean International said it rerouted at least three, while Norwegian Cruise Line said one ship changed its itinerary.
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