Hurricane Omar lashes Virgin Islands

---

SAN JUAN, (Puerto Rico), Oct 16 (AFP): Hurricane Omar pounded the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with lashing rain and 125 mile-per-hour winds Thursday after strengthening into a major category three storm.
Quickening its pace along a northeasterly track, Omar veered away from San Juan as it headed out to open water with its center about 55 miles (90 kilometers) northwest of Saint Martin at 0700 GMT, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Officials warned of possible fatalities with forecasters saying Omar could rain up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) as it churned across the Northern Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands.
"These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," read a warning from the NHC.
In Puerto Rico, forecasters lifted a hurricane watch overnight after all commercial flights and public events were canceled and schools and shipping lanes were closed as the island made anxious preparations for the storm.