Relief swept over Bermuda yesterday as Hurricane Dean crossed over Jamaica without extensive loss of life.

Families with relatives on the Caribbean island said their worst fears had now subsided with the passing of the Category Four storm.

Dean has claimed six lives in the eastern Caribbean and last night pummelled Jamaica with 145 mph winds, tearing roofs from houses, uprooting trees and unleashing torrential rain. The eye of the storm passed just south of the island but Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has declared a month-long state of emergency.

Bermuda's Government has offered humanitarian aid to the country and the Bermuda Regiment is also on stand-by to assist in any recovery efforts.

Hazel Christopher of the Jamaican Association in Bermuda said last night: "We've had a few phone calls this afternoon from people on the island and most places seem to have the power coming back on. People are relieved but there's still a lot of damage with roofs gone from houses and landslides. Some roads are also cut off and there's one person missing.

"Some families still haven't been in touch with people in Bermuda but those who have are relieved to know everyone is still alive so far. It was a really horrible storm but there's no loss of life so far that we know of."

Eve Paterson, whose fiancé Patrick Foster was stranded on the island with the Bermuda national squash team, said: "I feel very relieved. We've heard that they're all fine and are just waiting for a flight home now."

Miss Paterson, 27, of Warwick, said: "I'll just be glad when it's all over, but it is such a relief. I don't think it was as bad as they thought it was going to be so that's great news."

The team had reached the semi-finals of the Senior CASA Squash Championships when the tournament was cancelled on Friday. They spent the next two days trying to get a flight home but were forced to bunker down in the Liguanea Club hotel after the airport closed on Saturday.

Last night there was also relief among families with loved ones in the low-lying Cayman Islands, which also escaped a direct hit.

LOM Asset Management had evacuated its Cayman employees to Miami but they will now be allowed to return. Vice president and general manager Jon Heckscher said yesterday: "It looks like Cayman will be spared a direct hit, hence those that are now in Miami will return at the earliest moment."

Hurricane Dean is now bearing down on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula where it is expected to hit with the full force of a Category Five storm.

Meteorologists said it should serve as a wake-up call against complacency in Bermuda.

Geoffrey Saville, meteorological forecaster with the Bermuda Weather Service, said: "This was the first major hurricane of the season. Even though it's been a quiet season so far, there's still half a season left and the chance of a hurricane coming near Bermuda.

"We are really reaching the height of the season so it's a case of being on your toes. Dean has brought back the awareness that we do have to stay alert. This is the time of year to really be aware of these things."