The World : Hurricane Nears Jamaica

Hurricane Gilbert swept toward Jamaica with 100-m.p.h. winds as officials issued warnings to residents on the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba. The storm ripped roofs off houses and caused some coastal flooding in Puerto Rico. In the Dominican Republic, all domestic flights were canceled, while Cuba’s official news agency reported that a state of alert was declared in the western provinces. “This is the strongest hurricane we’ve had since Emily of last year. Emily was a good deal stronger . . . but Emily passed over land, whereas this one’s going over water,” said Hal Gerrish, a forecaster at the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables, Fla.