Tropical storm Chantal headed to Dominican Republic and Haiti

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Tropical Storm Chantal threatened to turn into a hurricane while it produced toward the Dominican Republic and Haiti as authorities there and in Puerto Rico heavy warned of possible landslides and floods.

The storm was located about 270 miles (440 kilometers) southeast of Puerto Rico around 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday, according to the National Center of hurricanes in the United States in Miami. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (100 kph) and was moving west-northwest 26 mph (43 km/h).

The Center issued a hurricane watch for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, with the storm that is expected to be near or over the country by Wednesday evening. Chantal is expected then on the Central Bahamas and Southeast on Thursday.

Dominican authorities urged people living in low-lying areas to evacuate, but few paid attention.

"We are confident nothing will happen," said Geovanny Batista, leader of an impoverished community in the capital of Santo Domingo, built largely of wood, cardboard and zinc.

"We can just go and leave our belongings," he said. "The thieves will come and take them."

Officials in Haiti met with similar resistance despite repeated warnings from the radio.

Peddler Marc St. Juste said he was unaware that a storm was coming, but on learning of the news, decided to stay out a little, even if only sell a few more cones of snow in the center of Port-au-Prince, Haiti congested capital.

"I'm going to return home as soon as possible," said St Juste pushing his ramshackle with frozen ice and colorful syrups wooden cart. "But still I'm going to go out and do as many as possible."

Chantal could be hurricane strength before it reaches the Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Both countries are vulnerable to flooding and mudslides from storms, but deforestation and ramshackle housing in the midst of Haiti even moderate rains pose a significant threat.

Haiti is already in the midst of its rainy season, with 279,000 people continue to live in settlements grim that appeared in the capital and elsewhere after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

With AccuWeather meteorologists also warned that the territory of the United States from Puerto Rico would hard hit, since some 13 inches (33 centimeters) of rain have already fallen in the capital of San Juan since June, almost twice the normal rainfall for this period.

"Much of the landscape is prepared for excessive runoff and flooding," said AccuWeather.

Chantal was expected to produce rain and strong winds in Puerto Rico, with gusts of up to 60 mph (96 km/h) in the southern and mountainous areas, Krizia Negron, meteorologist with the national weather service, told The Associated Press. Chantal said, is expected to pass about 70 miles (113 kilometers) South of Puerto Rico to early Wednesday.

At least 17 highways will be closed as a preventive measure in the southern city of mountain of Yauco, where about 30 percent of the population lives under the zinc roofs, Mayor Abel Nazario told the AP.

"When it rains a lot, a part of the mountain comes down," said. "It is always a concern."

Officials in the southern city of San Germán mountain also warned of possible heavy flooding, since six rivers run through, said Mayor Isidro Negrón.

Meanwhile, in the tourist town of southwest of Cabo Rojo, teams cleared branches and debris to prepare for rain, said Milton Llitera, director of the city emergency management.

"When this is flooded, unforgiving", told the AP.

As of Tuesday afternoon, a tropical storm warning was in effect for Puerto Rico, the coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the southeastern Bahamas and the islands of Turks and Caicos.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra and central Bahamas.

Up to eight inches (20 centimeters) of rain in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic and Haiti could fall.

Chantal had competed for the Eastern Caribbean early Tuesday, with officials in Dominica reports that strong winds tore off the roofs of several houses. Wounded were not registered there or elsewhere in the region.

Chantal also forced Carnival Cruise Lines to change the itineraries of two of its ships, the Carnival Liberty and Carnival Victory, spokesman Vance Gulliksen said.

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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico and Lopez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Writers associated press Daniel Trenton in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Guy Ellis in Castries, St. Lucia; Carlisle finished Baptiste in Roseau, Dominica; and David McFadden in Kingston, Jamaica, contributed to this report.

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