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| Hurricane Sandy: Florida coastline under storm warning | Hurricane Sandy: Florida coastline under storm warning |
| (3 days later) | |
| Hurricane Sandy has swept north over the Bahamas towards the US, having reportedly killed 21 people as it tore through Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. | Hurricane Sandy has swept north over the Bahamas towards the US, having reportedly killed 21 people as it tore through Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. |
| Schools, offices, airports and bridges had closed across the Bahamas as residents stocked up on supplies. | Schools, offices, airports and bridges had closed across the Bahamas as residents stocked up on supplies. |
| Sandy has weakened back to a category one hurricane, now with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), said the US National Hurricane Center. | |
| But forecasters warn it could still pose a threat to the US east coast. | But forecasters warn it could still pose a threat to the US east coast. |
| At 09:00 GMT, Sandy was moving north at about 13 mph, about 15 miles east off Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. | At 09:00 GMT, Sandy was moving north at about 13 mph, about 15 miles east off Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. |
| Florida is already being lashed by heavy rain and high winds, and the coastal state has a tropical storm warning in place. | Florida is already being lashed by heavy rain and high winds, and the coastal state has a tropical storm warning in place. |
| "We're looking for tropical-storm force winds along the coast and then some very dangerous surf conditions over the next couple of days," said James Franklin, the NHC's chief hurricane forecaster. | "We're looking for tropical-storm force winds along the coast and then some very dangerous surf conditions over the next couple of days," said James Franklin, the NHC's chief hurricane forecaster. |
| "So we can't really emphasise enough to keep people out of the water, the winds are going to be very strong." | "So we can't really emphasise enough to keep people out of the water, the winds are going to be very strong." |
| Some US broadcasters were already referring to Sandy as The Halloween Hurricane - or even Frankenstorm, due to the possibility of it blending with a winter storm over the United States - as it was expected to bring coastal flooding and power outages around All Hallow's Eve - on 31 October. | Some US broadcasters were already referring to Sandy as The Halloween Hurricane - or even Frankenstorm, due to the possibility of it blending with a winter storm over the United States - as it was expected to bring coastal flooding and power outages around All Hallow's Eve - on 31 October. |
| The storm was expected to head north-west at a slower pace on Friday, getting gradually larger all the while. | The storm was expected to head north-west at a slower pace on Friday, getting gradually larger all the while. |
| Although it is forecast to weaken, the NHC said it would likely remain a hurricane during the next 48 hours. | Although it is forecast to weaken, the NHC said it would likely remain a hurricane during the next 48 hours. |
| Guantanamo battered | Guantanamo battered |
| On Thursday, Sandy caused a storm surge leading to severe flooding along Cuba's south-eastern coastline. | On Thursday, Sandy caused a storm surge leading to severe flooding along Cuba's south-eastern coastline. |
| Civil emergency authorities said 11 people had died as the storm lashed the island - nine of those in Santiago province and two in Guantanamo province. Most victims were killed by falling trees or collapsing buildings. | Civil emergency authorities said 11 people had died as the storm lashed the island - nine of those in Santiago province and two in Guantanamo province. Most victims were killed by falling trees or collapsing buildings. |
| "The hurricane was very big. I have never seen anything like it in my 54 years," said Santiago resident Reinaldo Rivas. | "The hurricane was very big. I have never seen anything like it in my 54 years," said Santiago resident Reinaldo Rivas. |
| "It was terrible, roofs flew off everywhere." | "It was terrible, roofs flew off everywhere." |
| More than 50,000 people had been moved from their homes in the city, as part of Cuba's well-rehearsed hurricane preparations. | More than 50,000 people had been moved from their homes in the city, as part of Cuba's well-rehearsed hurricane preparations. |
| Strong winds and rain also battered the US naval base and detention facility at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, confining some workers to their quarters, delaying a hearing and prompting a number of prisoners to be moved to safer accommodation. | Strong winds and rain also battered the US naval base and detention facility at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, confining some workers to their quarters, delaying a hearing and prompting a number of prisoners to be moved to safer accommodation. |
| Elsewhere, nine deaths were reported in Haiti - where much of the infrastructure remains in a very poor condition following a massive earthquake in 2010. | Elsewhere, nine deaths were reported in Haiti - where much of the infrastructure remains in a very poor condition following a massive earthquake in 2010. |
| In Jamaica earlier in the week, an elderly man was killed when a boulder fell on his house. | In Jamaica earlier in the week, an elderly man was killed when a boulder fell on his house. |
| More than 1,000 people sought refuge in shelters there, as Sandy caused widespread power outages, flooded streets and damaged buildings. | More than 1,000 people sought refuge in shelters there, as Sandy caused widespread power outages, flooded streets and damaged buildings. |