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Caribbean storm death toll rises Caribbean storm deaths toll rises
(about 5 hours later)
Tropical storm Noel has left at least 48 people dead on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, officials say. More than 60 people have died in floods and mudslides sparked by tropical storm Noel in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, officials say.
Thirty were killed in the Dominican Republic in the east of the island, the country's National Emergencies Centre said, and 25,000 have been evacuated. The Dominican authorities say dozens of people are missing and more than 25,000 have been left homeless.
Another 18 were killed and thousands evacuated in Haiti to the west, which was hit by flash floods and landslides. Forecasters say the storm, with sustained winds of up to 85km/h (53 mph), is now heading towards the Bahamas but could miss Florida.
Noel has picked up strength as it moves off the northern coast of Cuba, and further torrential rain is expected. Rescuers have been struggling to reach communities cut off by the flooding.
The storm is forecast to make its way northeast over the Bahamas. It may pass within 130 miles of Florida, bringing heavy rains, gusty winds and high surf, the US National Hurricane Center said. At least 41 people have died in the Dominican Republic, more than 20 have died in neighbouring Haiti and one has been killed in Jamaica.
Thousands displaced Lingering
At least 15 people were reported missing in the Dominican Republic, where emergency workers are struggling to reach isolated communities cut off by rivers. In Cuba, thousands of people were evacuated but no casualties were reported after the storm dumped 15cm (6in) of rain in just six hours.
"The situation is still dangerous and the number of deaths could rise," said Luis Luna Palino, a spokesman for the Dominican Republic's National Emergencies Centre told local radio. Noel was lingering just off the northern coast of Cuba about 305km (190 miles) south of the Bahamas by 1700 local time (2100 GMT), the US National Hurricane Center said.
"Rescuing people is becoming difficult because the rains are continuing." The storm had been stationary for several hours and forecasters predicted it would curve north-east over the Bahamas on Thursday and away from Florida.
He said floods had cut off 39 communities in the south of the country, where one-third of the population was left without power. In the south of the Dominican Republic 39 communities have been cut off by flooding.
The storm sent floodwaters pouring down streets and hillsides and trees crashing down on houses. Emigdio Sosa, a senior presidential aide, said that so far 145,000 families had been given emergency aid in the form of food, blankets, mattresses and mosquito nets.
Several bridges have collapsed and mudslides have blocked roads.
Thousands of people are thought to have lost their homes.
Emigdio Sosa, director of the Dominican Republic presidential office's social assistance plan, said that so far 145,000 families had been given emergency aid in the form of food, blankets, mattresses and mosquito nets.
"We project that we will be helping more than 300,000 families," Mr Sosa said."We project that we will be helping more than 300,000 families," Mr Sosa said.
In Haiti, around 3,400 people are being housed in emergency shelters and some 400 homes have been destroyed. In Haiti floodwaters rushed through houses in the shanty town of Cite Soleil in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where UN soldiers set up makeshift shelters for storm refugees.
Some shelters were overwhelmed by evacuees and a local doctor, Virgil Boyer, said he was struggling to provide a blanket for each person.
"The biggest problem we have is that these people don't have anything to sleep on," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Haiti is especially vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides because most of its trees have been felled to make charcoal.Haiti is especially vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides because most of its trees have been felled to make charcoal.
In Cuba, where at least 3,000 people have been evacuated, about 1,000 homes have been damaged and floods have cut off several areas. No casualties are reported. The storm sent floodwaters pouring down streets and hillsides and trees crashing down on houses.
Several bridges have collapsed and mudslides have blocked roads.
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