Tropical Storm Fay kills eight, heads for Cuba

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

HAVANA, (AFP) — Tropical storm Fay dumped heavy rains on the Dominican Republic and Haiti, leaving eight people dead and six missing, as US weather experts forecast the system will strengthen to hurricane force as it approaches Cuba.

One person was killed and three were missing in the Dominican Republic due to the heavy rains Saturday, while thousands of people were evacuated to avoid the storm, local media reported.

In Haiti, the heavy rains killed seven people and left another three missing, civil protection officials told AFP.

Winds from the sixth storm of the Atlantic hurricane season were clocked at 70 kilometers (45 miles) per hour, the Miami-based US national Hurricane Center said.

But, the center said in its 2400 GMT report, "Strengthening...