HAVANA, Cuba, CMC:
THREE PEOPLE have reportedly been killed and four injured, following the passage of Hurricane Charley through Cuba in the early hours of yesterday morning.
At category two strength, the storm pounded the island with heavy rains and high winds of up to 125 miles per hour, leaving behind damaged homes, power lines and uprooted trees.
Details remain sketchy. However, civil defence authorities said the island suffered minor property damage and are reporting that some 41 buildings in Old Havana's dilapidated neighbourhoods collapsed.
CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE
More than 149,000 people were evacuated in western and central Cuba as the storm approached.
After hitting Cuba, Charley has since developed into a Category Four hurricane and is headed towards Florida.
While other Caribbean islands were generally spared the fury of Hurricane Charley, another tropical depression developed yesterday east of the Windward Islands.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami warned that Tropical Depression Number 5 could become a tropical storm by Saturday.
"Watches may be required for portions of the Lesser Antilles by today. Interests in the Lesser Antilles and the Eastern Caribbean Sea should closely monitor this system over the next few days," the latest bulletin said.
At 5 PM AST the center of the system was located near latitude 8.9, north longitude 46.2, west or about 1045 miles (1680 km), east-southeast of the Windward Islands.
The depression is currently moving toward the west near 20 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, with higher gusts.
The depression is expected to continue in a general motion with some strengthening forecasted during the next 24 hours.
