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Caribbean storm death toll rises Caribbean storm deadliest so far
(about 5 hours later)
At least 90 people have died in floods and mudslides sparked by Tropical Storm Noel in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, officials say. The death toll from Tropical Storm Noel in the Caribbean has risen to more than 100 - making it the deadliest storm of the Atlantic region this year.
The Dominican Republic authorities say dozens are missing and at least 58,300 have had to flee their homes. Sixty-six people have now died in the Dominican Republic, where over 62,000 residents have fled their homes, and 40 are confirmed dead in Haiti.
Forecasters have warned of hurricane strength winds in the Bahamas as the storm heads towards the archipelago. Forecasters say Noel is accelerating through the Bahamas and could grow into an extra-tropical cyclone in 24 hours.
And the US National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm warning for Florida's south-east coast. Hurricane Felix killed 101 people in Nicaragua and Honduras in September.
Meanwhile with rain still falling on Hispaniola - the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti - rescuers have been struggling to reach communities cut off by the flooding. At 1700 local time (2100 GMT) the centre of Noel was 40 miles (65km) north-north-east of the Bahamas and about 205 miles (330km) east-south-east of Florida.
At least 56 people have died in the Dominican Republic, 34 in neighbouring Haiti and one in Jamaica.
This has just finished me off - it took 60 chickens, 26 pigs - and my family Bienvenido CastilloStorm victim
At 1100 local time (1500 GMT), the centre of the storm was located about 70km (45 miles) south-west of Nassau, in the Bahamas and 280km (175 miles) south-east of Miami, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Forecasters predict the storm will curve north-east over the Bahamas on Thursday, and the government has issued a hurricane watch for the north-west islands.
Packing sustained winds of up to 100km/h (60 mph) the storm is expected to cause rough seas and coastal flooding as it passes the Florida coast, forecasters said.
Swept awaySwept away
Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez has declared a state of emergency for the next 30 days and asked for international help, especially rescue teams and helicopters. Packing sustained winds of up to 100km/h (62 mph), the storm is expected to cause coastal flooding as it passes Florida, the US National Hurricane Center said.
He ordered residents in 36 communities to evacuate because they were in potential flood zones. The islands of the north-western Bahamas have been placed under hurricane watch amid fears the storm will strengthen.
The village of Piedra Blanca was swept away when a swollen river overflowed its banks, killing at least seven people. This has just finished me off - it took 60 chickens, 26 pigs - and my family Bienvenido CastilloStorm victim
"A lot of people had to choose between losing one child and losing another," Liony Batista, from Christian group Food for the Poor, said. The Bahamas has grounded flights and residents are boarding up their homes and stocking up on basic goods.
Rescuers have been struggling to reach cut-off communities on Hispaniola - the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
A 30-day state of emergency has been declared in the Dominican Republic, where dozens of people are missing after chest-high flood waters surged across swathes of the country.
President Leonel Fernandez has launched an international appeal for loans of $200m (£96m) to rebuild ravaged roads, collapsed bridges and a smashed electrical network.
Helicopters and boats are trying to reach communities that have been isolated after three days of heavy rainfall.
The villages of Piedra Blanca and Villa Altagracia were swept away when swollen rivers overflowed.
Bienvenido Castillo, who was rescued by boat, lost his whole family in the storm.Bienvenido Castillo, who was rescued by boat, lost his whole family in the storm.
"I've been here for 20 years and this has just finished me off. It took 60 chickens, 26 pigs - and my family," he said."I've been here for 20 years and this has just finished me off. It took 60 chickens, 26 pigs - and my family," he said.
In Haiti, the civil protection agency confirmed 10 more deaths overnight, raising the national toll to 34. It warned the total could increase as authorities reach remote towns in the Haitian countryside. In Haiti, most of the bodies have been found in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince.
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. Rescuers fear the death toll could climb once they reach remote rural towns.
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.
One person was also killed in Jamaica.
Noel has also wreaked havoc across provinces in central and eastern Cuba, but no deaths have been reported.
At least 2,000 homes have been damaged, thousands of tons of crops have been obliterated and 24,000 people have been evacuated, according to reports.
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