THE DEATH TOLL from the tropical storm ‘Isaac’ has risen to nine following the confirmation by Dominican Rebublic officials of two deaths today.
Authorities said that two men were swept away by flood waters after rivers burst their banks.
Seven deaths reported earlier in neighbouring Haiti after the tropical storm made landfall there. The Caribbean nation is still struggling from the effects of the January 2010 earthquake and hundreds of thousands of people are still living in makeshift shelters and tents.
America’s National Hurricane Center has warned that the storm could reach hurricane force by the time it strikes land there later today. The storm is currently making its way towards the Florida Keys and residents in the area of its projected path have been advised to prepare themselves for the storm.
A hurricane warning is currently in effect for the Florida Deys and the west coast of Florida state. The warning has also been extended to the area east of Morgan City in Louisiana to Indian Pass in Florida, “including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain”, according to the NHC.
This AP footage shows the effects of the storm being felt along in Florida today as it approaches the US state. One couple told the AP that they came to the area to plan their wedding – and decided to ‘stick out’ the storm:
YouTube: AssociatedPress
- Additional reporting by the AP
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