ROSEAU (Dominica): Erika broke up as it raked Cuba on Saturday, bringing the drought-parched island heavy rains after the tropical storm left at least 20 dead in the tiny island nation of Dominica the day before.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said the storm had degenerated into a “trough of low pressure” and was just off the southeastern coast of Cuba, 205 kilometres east of the city of Camaguey.

In Cuba, the heavy rains came as welcome news to an island enduring its worst drought since 1901. “The rains, at times intense, ... are received with pleasure, given the intense drought that affects this region since the end of last year”.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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