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Tropical Storm Emily breaks up over Haiti | Tropical Storm Emily breaks up over Haiti |
(40 minutes later) | |
A tropical storm that has been lashing Haiti and the Dominican Republic with intense rain has broken up. | |
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Storm Emily lost force as it moved across the mountains of Hispaniola - the Caribbean island the two nations share. | |
The storm brought flooding to parts of Haiti's south coast. | The storm brought flooding to parts of Haiti's south coast. |
But camps housing hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by last year's earthquake have so far been spared. | But camps housing hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by last year's earthquake have so far been spared. |
The storm dissipated into a trough low-pressure, the NHC said, but was still capable of causing life-threatening landslides and flash floods. | |
Red alert | Red alert |
The Haitian authorities had issued a red alert and urged people to leave camps around the capital, Port-au-Prince, many of which stand on vulnerable hillsides. | |
Flights were cancelled and government buildings closed as the storm approached. | Flights were cancelled and government buildings closed as the storm approached. |
Forecasters said 15-30cm (6-12in) of rain could fall, with up to 50cm possible in some regions. | Forecasters said 15-30cm (6-12in) of rain could fall, with up to 50cm possible in some regions. |
In the Dominican Republic, 5,000 people were evacuated from areas at risk of flooding, but the government has discontinued its tropical storm warning. | In the Dominican Republic, 5,000 people were evacuated from areas at risk of flooding, but the government has discontinued its tropical storm warning. |
Storm warnings have also been lifted in Cuba and the Bahamas. | |
Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Extensive deforestation and poor infrastructure make Haiti particularly vulnerable to heavy rain. | Extensive deforestation and poor infrastructure make Haiti particularly vulnerable to heavy rain. |
In June, more than 20 people were killed by mudslides and flash floods. | In June, more than 20 people were killed by mudslides and flash floods. |
Haiti is also still struggling to recover from the January 2010 earthquake. | Haiti is also still struggling to recover from the January 2010 earthquake. |
President Michel Martelly took office in May but has not yet managed to form a government, complicating aid efforts. | President Michel Martelly took office in May but has not yet managed to form a government, complicating aid efforts. |
According to the International Organization for Migration, some 634,000 Haitians still live in camps, although other estimates of what is a necessarily fluctuating population put the figure at 375,000. | According to the International Organization for Migration, some 634,000 Haitians still live in camps, although other estimates of what is a necessarily fluctuating population put the figure at 375,000. |
On Tuesday, Haitian lawmakers voted against Mr Martelly's new choice of prime minister, Bernard Gousse, following their rejection in June of his first pick, Daniel-Gerard Rouzier. | On Tuesday, Haitian lawmakers voted against Mr Martelly's new choice of prime minister, Bernard Gousse, following their rejection in June of his first pick, Daniel-Gerard Rouzier. |
President Martelly needs a prime minister in order to assemble a government that can work with international agencies involved in the task of rebuilding after the quake. | President Martelly needs a prime minister in order to assemble a government that can work with international agencies involved in the task of rebuilding after the quake. |
The lack of an administration is also hampering emergency planning to cope with future disasters. | The lack of an administration is also hampering emergency planning to cope with future disasters. |