Hurricane Ike, a still-more dangerous Category 4 storm, was advancing from the east. Hanna was forecast to pass east of the Atlantic archipelago before striking along the coast of North or South Carolina by today night, but the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said Hanna's sprawling bands of outer winds are likely to hit far sooner. Tropical storm force winds extended outward as far as 290 miles (465 kilometers) from the center. Haitian authorities on Thursday blamed Hanna for 61 deaths, most due to flooding.Civil Protection Department spokesman Abel Nazaire said 21 of the deaths were in the northern city of Gonaives, which has been almost entirely cut off by floodwaters.
The storm also was blamed for one death in Puerto Rico.
Hanna's heart was about 280 miles (455 kilometers) east-southeast of Nassau -- and about 760 miles (1,220 kilometers) south-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, around dawn Thursday. It was moving toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 kph). Its maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) were just a little short of hurricane force, and forecasters said it could strengthen. A hurricane watch was posted from Surf City, North Carolina to Edisto Beach, South Carolina, with a tropical storm force watch south to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.
Forecasters said it could curve northeastward after hitting US coast and run up the seaboard past New York with tropical-storm-force winds. No major damage or injuries have yet been reported in the Bahamas.
"Most certainly I am relieved. We are tranquil," said Stephen Russell, interim director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency.
