But forecasters predicted the storm could regain strength and barrel into quake-ravaged Haiti later in the week, threatening the hundreds of thousands of people living in camps around Port-au-Prince since a devastating earthquake in January.

At 1800 GMT, Tomas was 315 miles (505 kilometers) southeast of Port-au-Prince and 245 miles (395 kilometers) southeast of Kingston, moving in a northeasterly direction, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

A tropical storm watch has been declared in Jamaica, the center said, adding that Haiti, the Dominican Republic and southeast Cuba should monitor the storm's progress.

"On the forecast track, the center of Tomas could approach Haiti on Friday," it said.

Winds were near 35 miles (55 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts, the forecast said.

"Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Tomas could regain tropical storm strength by Thursday."

The death toll in St Lucia, which was mauled on Saturday by the storm, rose Wednesday to 14 dead with the recovery of two more bodies.

French helicopters and a British ship were helping to deliver supplies to some of the worst hit areas of the island.

The US State Department said the storm inflicted "significant damage" in St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

"There are no reports of US citizens killed or seriously injured in the storm or its aftermath," the department said in a travel advisory.

"However, major roads and bridges on the islands are closed due to landslides and flooding, making transportation around the island extremely difficult or impossible.

"Cell phone towers are down, resulting in limited communication, and some areas do not have electricity or water," it said.

The island's two airports were open but operating at limited capacity, it said.

As Haiti prepared to evacuate tens of thousands ahead of the storm, US naval commanders ordered the USS Iwo Jima to steam toward Haiti with humanitarian aid.

The amphibious ship is equipped with ten helicopters and a crew of 1,600, including medical and engineering teams ready to assist in relief efforts after the storm strikes, the US Navy said in a statement.

Haiti is also struggling with a cholera epidemic that is spreading in unsanitary camps for people still homeless.

The death toll from epidemic spiked to 442 on Wednesday, with 105 more deaths since Saturday and more than a 40 percent jump in new cases, officials said.

Haitian health authorities reported that an additional 1,978 people were hospitalized, raising the total number of cases to 6,742.

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