STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY SEAS AT PONCE, PUERTO RICO, WITH PEOPLE PREPARING FOR THE BLAST.




Initials AA/N/MR/GLH



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Background: CUBA CROUCHED IN THE PATH OF KILLER HURRICANE INEZ TODAY (FRIDAY) AS IT TRAILED ITS WAKE OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN. AT LEAST 33 PEOPLE ARE REPORTED KILLED IN THE FRENCH ISLAND OF GUADELOUPE AND IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. AND IN NEIGHBOURING HAITI A BIGGER TOLL IS FEARED.

ON WEDNESDAY PUERTO RICANS PREPARED FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF HURRICANE INEZ AS HEAVY SEAS LASHED THE BEACHES AND STRONG WINDS SWEPT ACROSS THE ISLAND. BUT THE HURRICANE MISSED PUERTO RICO, AND ROARED ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN TOWARDS CUBA WHERE EMERGENCY PRECAUTIONS ARE NOW IN HAND.

INEZ, THE WORST STORM OF THE SEASON AND MOVING AT ABOUT 12 MILES AN HOUR (20 KPH), IS ALSO EXPECTED TO THREATEN THE BAHAMAS.

MEANWHILE TROPICAL STORM JUDITH, DESCRIBES AS STILL IN THE FORMATIVE STAGE WITH WINDS OF 50 MILES AND HOUR (80 KPH), IS REPORTED MOVING UP INTO THE CARIBBEAN FROM THE ATLANTIC IN THE WAKE OF INEZ.