3 Dead as Elsa Speeds Through Caribbean, Heading for Cuba
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Tropical Storm Elsa battered the southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Saturday, downing trees and blowing off roofs as it sped through the Caribbean, killing at least three people.
The storm was centered about 140 miles (225 kilometers) east of Kingston, Jamaica, and was speeding west-northwest at 23 mph (37 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) as the tropical storm, which had been a Category 1 hurricane earlier on Saturday, weakened in its approach to Hispaniola and Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The storm was forecast to hit Cuba next on a path that would take it to Florida, with some models showing it would spin into the Gulf or up the Atlantic Coast. A tropical storm watch was in effect for the Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to Dry Tortugas.
Three dead as tropical storm speeds through Caribbean, moves towards Cuba
AP/Port-Au-Prince
AP
Tropical storm Elsa is battering the coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, downing trees and blowing off roofs.
Tropical storm Elsa battered the southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Saturday, downing trees and blowing off roofs as it sped through the Caribbean, killing at least three people.
The storm was centred about 175 miles (280 kilometres) east-southeast of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and was swirling west-northwest at 17 mph (28 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) as the tropical storm, which had been a Category 1 hurricane earlier on Saturday, weakened in its approach to Hispaniola and Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Storm Elsa turns deadly across the Caribbean
A number of people have been killed as the storm barrels through the region. Cuba and Florida are bracing themselves ahead of the expected bad weather.
Elsa is wreaking havoc across the Caribbean region
Another death was reported in St. Lucia, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
The tropical storm, downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane, is now heading for Cuba and then onto Florida, in the US, sustaining winds at 70 miles per hour (110 kph).
Cuba and Florida brace for Elsa
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said there was some slight strengthening possible Sunday afternoon as Elsa approaches the south-central coast of Cuba.
3 Dead As Tropical Storm Elsa Barrels Through Caribbean, Heads For Cuba
Elsa battered southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic as Florida Gov. declares state of emergency in 15 counties.
Danica Coto and Evens Sanon
Nigel R Browne via Reuters
Debris is what s left of a house after it lost its roof and walls in the strong winds of Elsa when it roared through St. Michael, Barbados.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Tropical Storm Elsa battered the southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Saturday, downing trees and blowing off roofs as it sped through the Caribbean, killing at least three people.