This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7581669.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hurricane Gustav roars into Haiti Deadly hurricane weakens in Haiti
(about 14 hours later)
Hurricane Gustav has made landfall over Haiti, bringing heavy rains and winds of 140 km/h (90mph). Hurricane Gustav has hit Haiti, killing at least two people, but weakened to a tropical storm.
Haitian authorities have urged people in the poor Caribbean nation to take precautions amid fears of landslides and widespread flooding. Gustav's winds fell to 70mph (110km/h), although experts warned the storm could regain strength later this week.
Haiti, hit a week ago by a tropical storm that left more than two dozen dead, is vulnerable to mudslides because of widespread deforestation. Oil prices on trading markets rose amid forecasts Gustav could by Sunday become a highly dangerous category three to five hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm is expected to bring rainfall of 64cm (25 inches) in some areas. The Dominican Republic discontinued its hurricane warning but a hurricane watch remains in place for Jamaica and Cuba.
Haitian officials warned people to be ready to be evacuated from vulnerable areas. name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region In Cuba, ex-President Fidel Castro issued an essay mentioning the hurricane and pledging that the government in Havana "guarantees no-one will be forgotten".
Gustav has grown more powerful since it strengthened to a category one hurricane earlier on Tuesday. name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region
Haitian Interior Minister Paul-Antoine has appealed for international bodies to help his government cope with the storm's aftermath. At 2300 local time (0300 GMT) the storm's centre was about 85 miles (130km) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
'Flash floods and mud slides' "Gustav is moving back over water and is expected to regain hurricane strength on Wednesday once it clears the south-western peninsula of Haiti," the US National Hurricane Center said.
At 1800 GMT, Gustav's centre was located some 60 kms (40 miles) southwest of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The storm lingered for hours over Haiti's poor, deforested southern peninsula on Tuesday, felling trees and raising water levels on banana, bean and vegetable fields.
The BBC's Laura Tobin looks at the path of Hurricane Gustav Protests
Gustav's heavy rainfall "will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," said the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC). Hundreds of people in coastal Les Cayes ignored official warnings to seek shelter, instead hurling rocks in protest at the high cost of living. UN peacekeepers and Haitian police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.
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. Flood victim Marlene Anglade told Reuters news agency: "The water took away our bed, our houseware equipment, and we never received any help at all."
Haiti is still recovering from the last storm, Fay, which swept across the Caribbean and the south-eastern US last week. Correspondents say Haiti remains volatile because of soaring food prices, which in April led to deadly protests and the toppling of the nation's prime minister.
Neighbouring Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has issued a hurricane warning for the south-west of the country. Haiti was hit a week ago by a tropical storm that left more than two dozen dead and there are fears Gustav could bring further flash floods and mud slides.
The Cuban authorities have also issued a hurricane watch for the provinces of Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo. It is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Gustav is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Back to storyBack to story
Are you in Haiti? How are you preparing for Hurricane Gustav? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. Are you in Haiti? Have you been affected by tropical storm Gustav? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name
 Name