This NOAA satellite image taken Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 1:45 PM EDT shows the center of Tropical Storm Ophelia located about 215 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Ophelia is traveling toward the north-northwest near 3 mph with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph and higher gusts. Meanwhile, isolated showers are visible to the east of Jamaica. (AP Photo/Weather Underground)
This NOAA satellite image taken Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 1:45 PM EDT shows the center of Tropical Storm Ophelia located about 215 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Ophelia is traveling toward the north-northwest near 3 mph with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph and higher gusts. Meanwhile, isolated showers are visible to the east of Jamaica. (AP Photo/Weather Underground)
ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) ? Tropical Storm Ophelia caused flooding and cut off several communities on the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica as it regained strength, officials said Wednesday.
About 1,600 people were stranded and nearly a dozen cars washed away, said Nathaniel Isaac, the island's disaster preparedness coordinator.
"It's pretty terrible," he said.
Schools, businesses and government offices were closed Wednesday, and Isaac warned of more flooding as the storm continued to swirl northward away from land.
The heavy rain forced the closure of Canefield Airport, one of the island's two airports, said Rayburn Blackmoore, minister of roads and infrastructure.
Several communities lost power.
Ophelia had maximum sustained winds of about 50 mph (85 kph) Wednesday afternoon. The storm was expected to gain strength and could become a hurricane by Saturday on a track expected to take it east of Bermuda.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Hilary weakened to a Category 1 storm with winds of 80 mph (130 kph). It was not expected to hit Mexico's coast.
Associated Press
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন