The Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos are being hammered by Hurricane Ike, the fourth major storm to sweep the region in the past three weeks.
Ike, measuring a ferocious Category Four, barrelled over the archipelago with winds of up to 135mph (215km/h).
Forcecasters say it could dump up to 12 inches (30cm) of rain as it powers towards Cuba and the Bahamas, passing just north of Haiti, over the next day.
Cicero's 