Thomas Cook slammed for refusing to evacuate hundreds of terrified Brits as devastating Hurricane Matthew crashes into holiday islands
Hundreds of Brits told to stay in their resorts as staff and other holidaymakers flee
HUNDREDS of terrified Brit holidaymakers who travelled with Thomas Cook have been left stranded in their hotels in Cuba -- directly in the path of deadly Hurricane Matthew.
Guests of other nationalities and even hotel staff are said to have been evacuated before the Category Four storm -- which made landfall in nearby Haiti on Tuesday -- approached the region.
But travel giant Thomas Cook has told its customers on the island it is now too late for them to be moved to safety.
It instead advised some holidaymakers to shut themselves in their bathrooms -- while one family claims to have been given nothing more than an UMBRELLA.
Hurricane Matthew is one of the strongest to have hit the Caribbean in recent years.
It landed in Haiti on Tuesday morning, bringing winds of up to 145mph.
Haitian president Jocelerme Privert said on Tuesday afternoon the storm has already killed dozens.
Matthew is expected to reach the southeastern tip of Cuba by 11:00pm GMT on Tuesday night.
The area is home to the popular resort of Holguin -- where around 1,000 British tourists are currently staying according to Thomas Cook.
The company says Cuban authorities have prevented them from being evacuated as the resort's airport shut on Sunday.
Only 570 of its customers who were due to fly home by Tuesday were moved to nearby Cayo Coco, where specially chartered flights were put on to take them to London Gatwick and Manchester.
But the 1,000 that remain in Holguin have been told it is now too late for them to be moved safely.
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Danielle Rigby, whose mum and dad are staying on the island, said Thomas Cook did little more than give them "an umbrella for inside the room".
"As you can imagine I'm extremely anxious and worried and would like some answers from Thomas Cook other than go visit the ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) website", she said.
Kathy Hudson, whose 22-year-old daughter is staying in hotel Playa Costa Verde, said tourists from other countries had been shipped out of the resort.
Directing her comment to Thomas Cook, she wrote on Facebook: "I can't believe that you have allowed your customers and our loved ones to be left in a deserted resort with minimal staff.
"They also have families to look after, whilst every other nation has been evacuated.
"I am very disappointed and God help you if this goes wrong."
Gemma Jones, who is in Playa Pesqeuro, also wrote that other nationalities had been evacuated and there are "only a few English left".
"Been told to shelter in bathroom ... A lot of staff have now left hotel".
A spokesperson for Thomas Cook told The Sun: "Following the upgraded Hurricane warning on Sunday 2nd October we worked with the Cuban government to move around 570 customers to Cayo Coco who have departed on flights scheduled on the 3rd and 4th of Oct.
"The Government has not given permission for further customers to be relocated at this time.
"Hotels in Cuba are very experienced in dealing with issues of this kind and have tried and tested hurricane procedures.
"The hurricane is due to pass through later today the 4th of Oct, we will then of course assess the situation as quickly as possible to update our customers.”
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