Hanna becomes hurricane off Bahamas

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

MIAMI (AFP) — Tropical Storm Hanna on Monday developed into a full-fledged hurricane east of the Bahamas in the Atlantic ocean, US officials reported, as deadly Hurricane Gustav pounded the Gulf Coast near New Orleans.

"Hanna becomes the fourth hurricane of the season," the National Hurricane Center reported in a bulletin, adding that the storm was very near Mayaguana Island in the southeastern Bahamas and packing winds near 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour.

The NHC said hurricane warnings were issued for the Central Bahamas, Southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, and that Hanna was churning west-southwest at five miles (seven kilometers) per hour, but was expected to turn northward in a direction of the southeaster US coast.

"Some additional...