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People stand on the ruins of their houses destroyed by Tropical Storm Paloma in Santa Cruz del Sur Camaguey, Cuba November 9, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>> |
HAVANA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hurricane Paloma has
weakened from a Category 3 storm to a tropical depression while moving across
eastern Cuba's Camaguey province, the country's Meterological Institute said
Sunday.
Winds of between 10 and 12 kph broke the vertical
structure of Paloma in a few hours, causing light rains over the eastern region,
the institute said.
The remnants of the hurricane are not likely to
generate another storm, it added.
Hurricane Paloma roared over Cuba Saturday night with
strong winds exceeding 240 kph.
Local media reported Sunday that the hurricane had
caused "considerable damages in Camaguey as well as in the nearby territories of
Tunas and Ciego de Avila."
Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated
before Paloma made landfall in Cuba. No deaths or major injuries have been
reported so far.
Paloma was the eighth hurricane of a busy Atlantic
hurricane season, which officially ends Nov. 30.
Cuba has been battered by successive hurricanes in recent months, as Gustav and Ike damaged nearly 440,000 homes and forced almost two million people into temporary shelters.