Tropical Storm Gustav dumps rain on Haiti
Tropical Storm Gustav has dumped torrential rains on Haiti, and forecasters warned it could regain hurricane strength once it moves out to sea.
The seventh storm of the 2008 Atlantic season barged ashore in southern Haiti 10 miles west of Jacmel on Tuesday with top sustained winds of 90 miles per hour.
The hurricane was a Category 1 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale, the US National Hurricane Center said.
But in its latest advisory, the Miami-based agency said Gustav weakened once it hit land.
Haitian civil protection chief Alta Jean-Baptiste said two people were believed killed and five injured in a landslide in a town near Jacmel, but there were no other immediate reports of serious damage.
However, forecaster's said: "Gustav could regain hurricane strength once it clears the southwestern peninsula of Haiti."
They said: "More significant strengthening is forecast on Thursday when it passes between Cuba and Jamaica."
Forecasters warned that heavy rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Gustav could become the first major storm to threaten US oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico since 2005.
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