Sandy reaches category two after pounding Jamaica

(CNS): Updated Thursday — At least one man has died after being crushed by a boulder and almost three quarters of the island was without power after Hurricane Sandy pounded Jamaica Wednesday. As Sandy passed across Cuba on Thursday  morning it had reached category two stautus on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. At 8am local time the storm was packing winds in excess of 105mph and was travelling north at 18mph. Sandy was located around 75miles north east of Holguin, Cuba and headed for the Bahamas. The warnings and curfews were lifted in Jamaica Thursday after the first direct hit from a hurricane since Hurricane Gilbert 24 years ago.

According to the local weather services, Sandy, which passed more than 200 miles to the East of the Sister Islands, is still producing very high seas for Cayman and a marine warning remains in effect. Cayman Weather Services said waves could peak as high as nine feet through Thursday. Some heavy rain and fresh winds are also expected.