Selma hits El Salvador; new storm heads for Cuba

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Tropical Storm Selma made landfall on the coast of El Salvador on Saturday with strong winds, heavy rains and dangerous ocean swells, while another system developing in the Caribbean was on a path taking it toward Cuba and Florida.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Selma hit El Salvador’s coast in the morning before losing strength over land, weakening to a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h. The storm’s centre was located about 75 kilometres east of San Salvador, and it was heading northeast at 13 km/h.

The centre said Selma was “expected to produce torrential rains and flash floods through Sunday.” and Salvadoran Civil Defence director Jorge Melendez said the rainfall would be “strong and intense.”

Salvadoran authorities reported some damage including mudslides, trees that toppled onto roads and rivers threatening to top their banks.

In the Caribbean sea, meanwhile, Tropical Depression Eighteen formed south of Cuba with winds of 55 km/h. It was centred about 130 kilometres south of Havana and moving toward the northnortheast at 41 km/h. Further strengthening was expected. The hurricane centre said the depression was “producing heavy rains across central Cuba and spreading northward over the Florida Keys and South Florida.” —