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Caribbean hit by tropical storm Caribbean hit by tropical storm
(about 4 hours later)
Tropical storm Olga, a rare December cyclone, has caused major floods and landslides in the Caribbean, killing at least 13 people, officials say. Tropical storm Olga, a rare December cyclone, has caused major floods and landslides in the Caribbean, killing at least 14 people, officials say.
Hardest-hit was the Dominican Republic, where 10 people died and thousands had to flee their homes. Two deaths were reported in Haiti, one in Puerto Rico. Hardest-hit was the Dominican Republic, where 11 people died and thousands had to flee their homes. Two deaths were reported in Haiti, one in Puerto Rico.
The storm slammed into the region on Tuesday - 10 days after the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season.The storm slammed into the region on Tuesday - 10 days after the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Olga is now expected to weaken into a tropical depression as it moves west. Olga is weakening rapidly but more heavy rain is likely, forecasters say.
At 1500 GMT on Wednesday it was centred about 120km (75 miles) south of Guantanamo, Cuba, forecasters at the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Downpours could cause possible flash floods and mudslides n the south-eastern Bahamas, eastern Cuba and Jamaica as well as the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami warned.
'Catastrophe''Catastrophe'
In the Dominican Republic, at least 10 people were killed and a number were still missing after the Yaque River burst its banks near the northern city of Santiago, officials said. In the Dominican Republic, at least 11 people were killed and a number were still missing after the Yaque River burst its banks near the northern city of Santiago, officials said.
In pictures: Storm Olga
At least 5,000 local residents were earlier forced to leave their homes.At least 5,000 local residents were earlier forced to leave their homes.
Heavy rains also forced the authorities to release water from a near-capacity dam in the already swollen river, the Associated Press news agency reported.Heavy rains also forced the authorities to release water from a near-capacity dam in the already swollen river, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Some local residents later told a local radio station that they had not been warned of the water release, and officials acknowledged that this might have caused some of the deaths, AP said.Some local residents later told a local radio station that they had not been warned of the water release, and officials acknowledged that this might have caused some of the deaths, AP said.
"We have an emergency situation. It's a catastrophe," provincial Governor Jose Izquierdo said."We have an emergency situation. It's a catastrophe," provincial Governor Jose Izquierdo said.
In Puerto Rico, one man was killed by a rain-triggered landslide, officials said.In Puerto Rico, one man was killed by a rain-triggered landslide, officials said.
The storm also left tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans without power or water.The storm also left tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans without power or water.
Serious damage was reported in Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Two people were reported to have died there.Serious damage was reported in Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Two people were reported to have died there.
The storm spared south-western areas of the Dominican Republic hit by Tropical Storm Noel six weeks ago, where dozens of people were killed.The storm spared south-western areas of the Dominican Republic hit by Tropical Storm Noel six weeks ago, where dozens of people were killed.
After reaching winds of 60mph (75km/h) at its peak, Olga was weakening as it moved westwards, forecasters said.
It was only the 10th named storm to develop after the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season since records began in 1851.It was only the 10th named storm to develop after the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season since records began in 1851.