PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos – Hurricane Ike barrelled toward the Turks and Caicos with 110 mph winds yesterday, prompting an exodus of tourists and residents.

Turks and Caicos and the southern Bahamas appeared to be first in line to take a hit from Ike, and many people decided they would be better off elsewhere. For some, the decision to flee came too late.

Authorities planned to close the airport at noon, and even with extra flights scheduled, some had trouble finding seats.

"The flights look impossible at the moment," a dejected Patrick Munroe said outside the terminal in Providenciales.

He had hoped to return to his native Bahamas to be with his wife and child when the storm gets there.

"As I watched the weather forecast it looks really, really serious and I think it's going to be devastating," he said.

"I don't remember ever seeing a mass exodus like this," said Tracy Paradis, a long-time resident of Providenciales, who was heading to Seattle with her 19-month-old twins to wait out the storm.

The low-lying island chain was pummelled for four days by Hanna earlier this week.

That storm caused widespread flooding, and knocked down trees, light poles and an important causeway that links North Caicos and Middle Caicos.

Forecasters said Ike could be near or over the Turks and Caicos, southeastern Bahamas by early today and eastern Cuba by tomorrow.

Many in the Turks and Caicos said that Hurricane Hanna gave them a sense of vulnerability. (AP)