Hurricane Dean bears down on Jamaica

Aug 19 - Hurricane Dean brushed by the Dominican Republic on Saturday (August 18) with strong winds and rain, knocking down a handful of houses.

Residents in Santo Domingo worked to clear away rubble left by the storm. Many people say they have experienced significant losses.

The U.S. National Hurricane Centre says the eye of the hurricane is 295 miles (480 km) east southeast of Jamaica at 2 a.m. (0600 GMT). Hurricane Dean is expected to be near Jamaica or to make landfall on Sunday as an exceptionally dangerous storm.

Soundbite: Zunilda Ramirez, Resident saying (Spanish):

"I have three houses and all three were destroyed. Nothing remains. Nothing. I was working and when I returned, there was nothing."