3 dead as Tropical Storm Elsa batters Haiti, Dominican Republic

At least three people have died as Tropical Storm Elsa sped through the Caribbean, hitting the southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Tropical Storm Elsa battered the southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Saturday, downing trees and blowing off roofs as it sped through the Caribbean, killing at least three people. The storm was centered about 140 miles (225 kilometers) east of Kingston, Jamaica, and was speeding west-northwest at 23 mph (37 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) as the tropical storm, which had been a Category 1 hurricane earlier on Saturday, weakened in its approach to Hispaniola and Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.