Santo Domingo, 23 September 2022 (TDI): The World Food Programme (WFP) team is in the Dominican Republic to provide assistance as the country grapples with the impact of Hurricane Fiona. The government of the Dominican Republic has declared a state of emergency in the country.

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Hurricane Fiona 

Hurricane Fiona is a category four storm, the second-highest classification, which is possible for a category three storm, having wind speeds of 115 mph (185 km/h), according to forecasters.

It is still getting stronger despite the fact that it has already killed at least seven people in the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico, where at least four people died and 80% of the island is still without power, rain has been pelting the island.

While in the Dominican Republic, there have reportedly been two deaths as well. A man in the northeastern town of Nagua was killed by a fallen tree, while an 18-year-old female died after being struck by an electric pole that was downed by strong winds.

Furthermore, as a category 3 storm, the Fiona hurricane has moved towards northeastern Canada early on Friday, while battering Bermuda earlier with torrential rains.

According to the US National Hurricane Center, the centre of the storm was passing northwest of Bermuda early on Friday morning with maximum sustained winds close to 125 mph and higher gusts.

However, the storm was downgraded from a category 4 hurricane when it passed the island. It is now heading for Atlantic Canada, where the power of the storm will be unprecedented for the area.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre has predicted that Fiona will make landfall in the maritime province of Nova Scotia by Friday evening. Starting early Saturday, Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec are predicted to see ‘heavy rainfall’ and strong ‘hurricane-force winds.’

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