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Tropical storm strengthens ahead of Katrina landmark

27/08/2008

A tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico is gathering strength ahead of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Friday.

Tropical storm Gustav was downgraded from its hurricane strength earlier this week, but is now moving north-west at 7kmph, with wind speeds of up to 95kmph.

Katrina killed more than 1,800 people along the United States Gulf coast, devastated large parts of New Orleans and traumatised the entire country.

State officials in Louisiana have already begun preparing evacuation procedures in the case of Gustav strengthening.

The US national hurricane centre said a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning was in place in Jamaica, with a hurricane warning in Cuba.

The storm is currently over Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where a total of 11 people have been killed in mudslides.

Tropical storm conditions are expected on the island over the next 24 hours.

Gustav has already prompted fresh fears about offshore crude oil platforms in the Gulf, with Royal Dutch Shell evacuating personnel on Wednesday.