MIAMI, August 28, 2008 (AFP) - The Jamaican government on Thursday issued a hurricane warning as deadly Tropical Storm Gustav strengthened while approaching the island, the US National Hurricane Center said.

'The government of Jamaica has issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica,' the NHC said as the deadly storm gathered force about 80 miles (130 km) east of Kingston and about 170 miles (270 km) south of Guantanamo, Cuba.

The eye of the storm, which already left 22 people dead in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, was expected to pass 'very close' to Jamaica later Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center said.