Caribbean holiday hotspot Jamaica has closed its international airports while cruise ships have also been diverted as hurricane Sandy batters the island.

One man has been killed after the category one hurricane made land fall earlier, unleashing heavy rains and winds of 80mph.

Schools across the land are also closed, while a curfew has been imposed in major towns.

The Jamaica Public Service Company, the sole energy provider in the country, said 70 per cent of its customers were without electricity.

British Airways was forced to cancel flights from London to Kingston, while Virgin Atlantic has delayed its departure from London to Montego Bay.

Allure of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean, and three Carnival ships have all been diverted from the island.

Carnival Valour has skipped Montego Bay in Jamaica and cancelled its call at Grand Cayman.

Instead it is heading straight to Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.

Carnival Pride has skipped calls at Half Moon Cay and Freeport today and tomorrow and is calling at Port Canaveral in Florida on Friday.

Glory is missing Freeport and cutting short a stay in Nassau today and adding a stop at Port Canaveral on Friday.

“It is a big storm and it is going to grow in size after it leaves the Caribbean,” said forecaster Michael Brennan from the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami.