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| Thousands evacuated as two storms head for southern US | Thousands evacuated as two storms head for southern US |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people have been evacuated from parts of the Caribbean and southern US as two storms tore through the region on Sunday. | Thousands of people have been evacuated from parts of the Caribbean and southern US as two storms tore through the region on Sunday. |
| Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura have brought high winds and rough seas, causing damage to areas of Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura have brought high winds and rough seas, causing damage to areas of Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. |
| Heavy rains have also battered the US territory of Puerto Rico. | Heavy rains have also battered the US territory of Puerto Rico. |
| Marco is expected to make landfall in the US state of Louisiana on Monday, with Laura hitting Texas by Thursday. | Marco is expected to make landfall in the US state of Louisiana on Monday, with Laura hitting Texas by Thursday. |
| But forecasters say that Laura may swing east towards Louisiana, and it could be the first time in recorded history that the state has been hit by two back-to-back hurricanes. | |
| In response to the storms, US President Donald Trump has issued a disaster declaration for Louisiana, ordering federal assistance to coordinate relief efforts. On Saturday, a similar declaration was made for Puerto Rico. | In response to the storms, US President Donald Trump has issued a disaster declaration for Louisiana, ordering federal assistance to coordinate relief efforts. On Saturday, a similar declaration was made for Puerto Rico. |
| A least three people have been killed in the Dominican Republic as Laura swept through the country, leaving more than a million people without electricity. Among those killed was a seven-year-old boy who died with his mother after a wall collapsed in their home. The third person died after a tree collapsed on a house. | A least three people have been killed in the Dominican Republic as Laura swept through the country, leaving more than a million people without electricity. Among those killed was a seven-year-old boy who died with his mother after a wall collapsed in their home. The third person died after a tree collapsed on a house. |
| The positions for Marco and Laura are at 0300 GMT Monday. Source: National Hurricane Centre | |
| Five other deaths have been reported in Haiti, including that of a 10-year-old girl. The capital Port-au-Prince, is also experiencing severe flooding. | Five other deaths have been reported in Haiti, including that of a 10-year-old girl. The capital Port-au-Prince, is also experiencing severe flooding. |
| Meanwhile in Cuba, many residents in the country's eastern regions have been evacuated and housed in shelters or safer buildings on higher ground. | Meanwhile in Cuba, many residents in the country's eastern regions have been evacuated and housed in shelters or safer buildings on higher ground. |
| Marco strengthened to a hurricane on Sunday, with sustained winds of up to 75mph (120km/h), and is moving north between Cuba and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. | Marco strengthened to a hurricane on Sunday, with sustained winds of up to 75mph (120km/h), and is moving north between Cuba and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. |
| Laura is also predicted to become a hurricane on Wednesday, with its course heading northwest towards Houston, America's fourth-largest city. | Laura is also predicted to become a hurricane on Wednesday, with its course heading northwest towards Houston, America's fourth-largest city. |
| The US National Hurricane Centre has warned that back-to-back hurricanes arriving in the US within days of one another could result in prolonged periods of hazardous weather. | The US National Hurricane Centre has warned that back-to-back hurricanes arriving in the US within days of one another could result in prolonged periods of hazardous weather. |
| The US Coast Guard has also issued a warning for the Port of New Orleans, and called on ships to make plans to evacuate some areas. | The US Coast Guard has also issued a warning for the Port of New Orleans, and called on ships to make plans to evacuate some areas. |