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Hurricane bears down on Haiti Hurricane Gustav roars into Haiti
(about 2 hours later)
Hurricane Gustav is churning through the Caribbean and is on course to strike south-west Haiti shortly with powerful winds and rain, forecasts say. Hurricane Gustav has made landfall over Haiti, bringing heavy rains and winds of 140 km/h (90mph).
The US National Hurricane Center said Gustav had winds of 140 km/h (85mph). Haitian authorities have urged people in the poor Caribbean nation to take precautions amid fears of landslides and widespread flooding.
Haitian authorities urged people to take precautions amid fears the storm would bring trigger landslides.
Haiti, hit a week ago by a tropical storm that left more than two dozen dead, is vulnerable to mudslides because of widespread deforestation.Haiti, hit a week ago by a tropical storm that left more than two dozen dead, is vulnerable to mudslides because of widespread deforestation.
At 0500 local time (1000 GMT), the centre of Gustav was some 160km (100 miles) south-south-east of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, the Miami-based NHC said. The storm is expected to bring rainfall of 64cm (25 inches) in some areas.
The storm, which strengthened to a category one hurricane earlier on Tuesday, is set to gain further strength. It could bring rainfall of up to 64cm (25 inches) in some areas, forecasters said. Haitian officials warned people to be ready to be evacuated from vulnerable areas. name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region
Help sought Gustav has grown more powerful since it strengthened to a category one hurricane earlier on Tuesday.
Haitian officials warned people to be ready to be evacuated from vulnerable areas. Haitian Interior Minister Paul-Antoine has appealed for international bodies to help his government cope with the storm's aftermath.
name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region 'Flash floods and mud slides'
Haitian Interior Minister Paul-Antoine appealed for international bodies to help his government manage the risks and from the storm. At 1800 GMT, Gustav's centre was located some 60 kms (40 miles) southwest of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
The BBC's Laura Tobin looks at the path of Hurricane Gustav
Gustav's heavy rainfall "will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," said the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).
It was moving in a north-western direction at 16 km/h and was expected to head towards Cuba early on Wednesday, the NHC said.
Haiti is still recovering from the last storm, Fay, which swept across the Caribbean and the south-eastern US last week.Haiti is still recovering from the last storm, Fay, which swept across the Caribbean and the south-eastern US last week.
Neighbouring Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has also issued a hurricane warning for the south-west of the country. Neighbouring Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has issued a hurricane warning for the south-west of the country.
The hurricane is expected to be just south of Cuba by Wednesday, the NHC said. The Cuban authorities have also issued a hurricane watch for the provinces of Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.
The Cuban authorities have issued a hurricane watch for the provinces of Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.
Gustav is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.Gustav is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
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