Hurricane Noel raced north where it was expected to weaken slightly to an extra-tropical storm Friday after bringing destruction to the Caribbean region.
While still a tropical storm, Noel caused more than 100 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the two countries that share Hispaniola, the BBC reported. Heavy rains on the island were followed by deadly mudslides.
Noel was expected to become a powerful extra-tropical storm Friday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. At 11 p.m., the storm was moving north-northwest at almost 20 mph and was 760 miles south of Bermuda.
Warnings were lifted for the Bahamas, but a gale warning remained for Bermuda.
Noel strengthened into a Category One hurricane Thursday. But it did its worst damage as a storm, drenching the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and parts of Jamaica and Cuba. Single deaths were reported in Jamaica and the Bahamas.
Medical Assistance Program International pleaded for help for the Dominican Republic.
"It's a very urgent situation," said Chris Palusky, relief director for the group. "Many of these people have been seriously injured or their family members have been killed. They've lost their homes. They have nowhere to go. They need emergency medical assistance." |