TS Danny could spell relief for drought-parched Dominican Republic

Miami.- TropicalStorm Danny strengthened Wednesday with maximum sustained winds up to 85kilometers per hour and expected to become a hurricane Thursday, heading towardthe Lesser Antilles, says the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Danny could spellrelief for a drought-stricken region including the Dominican Republic, wherewater rationing has been in effect for months.

In its latest bulletinthe CHN said the hurricane Atlantic season´s fourth tropical storm is 2,325kilometers east of the Lesser Antilles, moving quickly west at 22 kilometersper hour. It said Danny may become a hurricane on Thursday.

The storm´s center waslocated near 11.3 north latitude and 40.2 west longitude, and will movewest-northwest during the next 48 hours.