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| Haiti facing storm 'catastrophe' | Haiti facing storm 'catastrophe' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Haiti faces a "catastrophe" after being hit by a series of storms in recent weeks, President Rene Preval has said. | Haiti faces a "catastrophe" after being hit by a series of storms in recent weeks, President Rene Preval has said. |
| Three storms in less than 21 days have killed 170 people and forced thousands to flee their homes in the Caribbean nation, officials say. | Three storms in less than 21 days have killed 170 people and forced thousands to flee their homes in the Caribbean nation, officials say. |
| The latest, Tropical Storm Hanna, has killed 61, caused floods several metres deep and stranded people on rooftops. | The latest, Tropical Storm Hanna, has killed 61, caused floods several metres deep and stranded people on rooftops. |
| It could prove even more deadly than one that killed more than 3,000 people in 2004, Mr Preval warned. | It could prove even more deadly than one that killed more than 3,000 people in 2004, Mr Preval warned. |
| See a map of Atlantic storms | See a map of Atlantic storms |
| Mr Preval said he would hold emergency talks with donor countries to appeal for aid. | Mr Preval said he would hold emergency talks with donor countries to appeal for aid. |
| The northern city of Gonaives bore the brunt of Hanna's maximum sustained winds of 100km/h (65mph), with people on rooftops screaming for help as floods reached depths of 2m (6.5ft). | The northern city of Gonaives bore the brunt of Hanna's maximum sustained winds of 100km/h (65mph), with people on rooftops screaming for help as floods reached depths of 2m (6.5ft). |
| "There are a lot of people who have been on top of the roofs of their homes over 24 hours now. They have no water, no food and we can't even help them," Haitian Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aime told Reuters news agency. | "There are a lot of people who have been on top of the roofs of their homes over 24 hours now. They have no water, no food and we can't even help them," Haitian Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aime told Reuters news agency. |
| In pictures: Haiti floodsEyewitness: Haiti's ordealsWarming boosts strongest storms UN peacekeepers and aid workers have been trying to reach stranded survivors. | In pictures: Haiti floodsEyewitness: Haiti's ordealsWarming boosts strongest storms UN peacekeepers and aid workers have been trying to reach stranded survivors. |
| "The situation is as bad as it can be," the UN's Vadre Louis told the Associated Press news agency. | "The situation is as bad as it can be," the UN's Vadre Louis told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "The wind is ripping up trees. Houses are flooded with water. Cars can't drive on the street. You can't rescue anyone, wherever they may be." | "The wind is ripping up trees. Houses are flooded with water. Cars can't drive on the street. You can't rescue anyone, wherever they may be." |
| At 1200 GMT on Thursday, Hanna was about 455km (280 miles) south-east of Nassau and moving north-west, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. | At 1200 GMT on Thursday, Hanna was about 455km (280 miles) south-east of Nassau and moving north-west, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. |
| There are fears it could become a hurricane by the time it hit lands along the US coast on Saturday, but the storm's uncertain path means officials are holding off ordering an evacuation. | There are fears it could become a hurricane by the time it hit lands along the US coast on Saturday, but the storm's uncertain path means officials are holding off ordering an evacuation. |
| However, some residents of North Carolina and South Carolina have already moved boats and booked inland hotel rooms. | However, some residents of North Carolina and South Carolina have already moved boats and booked inland hotel rooms. |
| Separately, storm Ike has strengthened rapidly into an extremely powerful Category Four hurricane in the open Atlantic, the NHC says. | Separately, storm Ike has strengthened rapidly into an extremely powerful Category Four hurricane in the open Atlantic, the NHC says. |
| However, it says it is too early to determine if Ike poses any threat to land. | However, it says it is too early to determine if Ike poses any threat to land. |
| Haiti was first drenched by Tropical Storm Fay, before Hurricane Gustav wreaked havoc last week, with torrential rainfall over heavily deforested and hilly terrain causing floods and mudslides. | Haiti was first drenched by Tropical Storm Fay, before Hurricane Gustav wreaked havoc last week, with torrential rainfall over heavily deforested and hilly terrain causing floods and mudslides. |
| Click to return | Click to return |
| Are you in Haiti? Have you been affected by the storms? Are you based elsewhere in the region? What preparations have you made to deal with the adverse weather? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | |
| Send your pictures 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 | Send your pictures 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. |