05 September 2004	Sunday	19 Rajab 1425

MIAMI, Sept 4: Fierce winds and driving rain lashed south Florida Saturday when the outer bands of Hurricane Francis hit the area as the Bahamas were still being pounded by the storm that crawled toward the US coast.

Frances packed winds of 165kms per hour and dumped large amounts of water on the Bahamas.

While the hurricane lost some of its initial power, authorities warned it could cause serious damage in Florida, which is still mopping up from Charley, a fiercer but smaller hurricane that killed more than 20 people two weeks ago.

"We know that the storm, despite the fact it has weakened in terms of hurricane force winds, will do damage to a whole lot of places," Florida Governor Jeb Bush said at a news conference Saturday.

Before the full fury of Frances even hit the coast, wind gusts of about 150kms per hour already uprooted trees, sent palm fronds flying onto highways and downed power lines, leaving tens of thousands without electricity.

The winds were expected to move inland, where some areas were placed under a hurricane warning on Saturday, while forecasters said isolated tornadoes could hit central Florida.

In St Lucie county, where the storm was expected to make landfall later Saturday or Sunday, authorities ordered a curfew.

"The eye is going to pass right over Fort Pierce," 160kms north of Miami, said St Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara.

"As the eye crosses the region, we will have a calm window of three to four hours, then strong wings again. Don't get out," he said.

Thousands of people, including tourists, packed emergency shelters and many others sought refuge with family, friends or at hotels after authorities ordered 2.5 million people to evacuate their homes in coastal areas.

Two people were reported killed in the Bahamas which has been pounded by the storm since Thursday night, and weather conditions forced the US Coast Guard to abandon a search for three people who issued a distress call from a pleasure craft off Bimini island on Thursday.

Forecasters warned that the Bahamas could receive close to 50 centimeters (20 inches) of rain and storm surge flooding of up to 3.65 meters (12 feet).

Rain and flooding were also the major worry in south Florida, which could get about 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rain.-AFP