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Caribbean storm deaths toll rises Caribbean storm death toll rises
(about 13 hours later)
More than 60 people have died in floods and mudslides sparked by tropical storm Noel in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, officials say. More than 80 people have died in floods and mudslides sparked by tropical storm Noel in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, officials say.
The Dominican authorities say dozens of people are missing and more than 25,000 have been left homeless.The Dominican authorities say dozens of people are missing and more than 25,000 have been left homeless.
Forecasters say the storm, with sustained winds of up to 85km/h (53 mph), is now heading towards the Bahamas but could miss Florida. Forecasters have warned of hurricane strength winds in the Bahamas as the storm heads towards the archipelago.
Rescuers have been struggling to reach communities cut off by the flooding. And the US National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm warning for Florida's south-east coast.
At least 41 people have died in the Dominican Republic, more than 20 have died in neighbouring Haiti and one has been killed in Jamaica. Meanwhile with rain still falling on Hispaniola - the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti - rescuers have been struggling to reach communities cut off by the flooding.
Lingering At least 56 people have died in the Dominican Republic, 24 have died in neighbouring Haiti and one has been killed in Jamaica.
In Cuba, thousands of people were evacuated but no casualties were reported after the storm dumped 15cm (6in) of rain in just six hours. This has just finished me off - it took 60 chickens, 26 pigs - and my family Bienvenido CastilloDominican storm victim
Noel was lingering just off the northern coast of Cuba about 305km (190 miles) south of the Bahamas by 1700 local time (2100 GMT), the US National Hurricane Center said. At 0500 local time (0900 GMT) Noel was about 185km (115 miles) south-west of Nassau, in the Bahamas, and about 290km (180 miles) south-east of Miami, the US National Hurricane Center said.
The storm had been stationary for several hours and forecasters predicted it would curve north-east over the Bahamas on Thursday and away from Florida. Forecasters predict the storm will curve north-east over the Bahamas on Thursday, and the government has issued a hurricane watch for the north-west islands.
In the south of the Dominican Republic 39 communities have been cut off by flooding. Packing sustained winds of up to 100km/h (60 mph) the storm is expected to cause rough seas and coastal flooding as it passes the Florida coast, forecasters said.
Emigdio Sosa, a senior presidential aide, said that so far 145,000 families had been given emergency aid in the form of food, blankets, mattresses and mosquito nets. Swept away
"We project that we will be helping more than 300,000 families," Mr Sosa said. Dominican President Leonel Fernandez has declared a state of emergency for the next 30 days and asked for international help, especially rescue teams and helicopters.
He ordered residents in 36 communities to evacuate because they were in potential flood zones.
The village of Piedra Blanca was swept away when a swollen river overflowed its banks, killing at least seven people.
"A lot of people had to choose between losing one child and losing another," Liony Batista, from Christian group Food for the Poor, said.
Bienvenido Castillo, who was rescued by boat, lost his whole family in the storm.
"I've been here for 20 years and this has just finished me off. It took 60 chickens, 26 pigs - and my family," he said.
In Haiti floodwaters rushed through houses in the shanty town of Cite Soleil in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where UN soldiers set up makeshift shelters for storm refugees.In Haiti floodwaters rushed through houses in the shanty town of Cite Soleil in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where UN soldiers set up makeshift shelters for storm refugees.
Some shelters were overwhelmed by evacuees and a local doctor, Virgil Boyer, said he was struggling to provide a blanket for each person.Some shelters were overwhelmed by evacuees and a local doctor, Virgil Boyer, said he was struggling to provide a blanket for each person.
"The biggest problem we have is that these people don't have anything to sleep on," he told the Associated Press news agency."The biggest problem we have is that these people don't have anything to sleep on," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Haiti is especially vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides because most of its trees have been felled to make charcoal.Haiti is especially vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides because most of its trees have been felled to make charcoal.
The storm sent floodwaters pouring down streets and hillsides and trees crashing down on houses.The storm sent floodwaters pouring down streets and hillsides and trees crashing down on houses.
Several bridges have collapsed and mudslides have blocked roads.Several bridges have collapsed and mudslides have blocked roads.
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