Bermudian Guilden Gilbert was barricaded in his Bahamas home yesterday as Hurricane Frances tore up neighbouring islands in the Caribbean archipelago.

The onslaught of Frances seemed to underscore forecasters' predictions of a severe hurricane season.

The storm comes less than a month after Charley made landfall in Florida leaving about $7 billion of property damage in its wake.

Mr. Gilbert is based on New Providence, near the capital Nassau, and lost roof shingles but counted himself lucky as the storm has already taken one life.

He said: "An 18-year-old boy died trying to fix a generator."

News reports said deadly winds in Nassau blew out building windows and set off bursts of looting in the deserted streets as the hurricane, downgraded it to Category Three, lashed Nassau with tropical storm force winds that knocked out power in many parts.

Mr. Gilbert, who moved to the island in 1997, has been locked inside his home since Wednesday and lost his power late Thursday night.

The brunt of storm is now to the north east of Nassau the southern portion of Abaco and was expected to go the middle and western end of Grand Bahama.

It is predicted to make landfall in Florida. Frances is also causing anxiety for some on these shores with Bermuda-based reinsurers having already posted estimates of hundreds of million in potential exposure to Charley ? and concerns that Frances will leave them with a similar, or higher, bill.