SANTO DOMINGO, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Tropical storm Ernesto dumped several inches of rain and caused some material damage Sunday as it whipped westward through the southern Dominican Republic, where 11 provinces remained on alert for flash floods and other emergencies.

The latest report from the National Meteorological Bureau (Onamet), issued at 1:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), said the fifth storm of the season was located some 350 km south-southwest of Jamaica, and was continuing to move away to Dominican territory at 37 kph, with maximum sustained wind of 85 kph.

"The large cloud that accompanies ... Ernesto will continue to affect the country during the afternoon and evening," predicted Onamet, which expected improvement in weather conditions as of Monday.

The country's Emergency Operations Center (COE) decided Sunday to maintain a yellow (medium-level) alert in case of floods and mudslides in five provinces, including the capital Santo Domingo, while a green (low-level) warning was in effect in six others.

Near the capital, a swollen river damaged three houses and cut off access to a small town, while in San Pedro de Macoris, 72 km east of Santo Domingo, strong wind knocked down a radio antenna.

On Saturday, Ernesto had uprooted trees, lamp posts and street signs, leading President Leonel Fernandez to cancel an official event, said the COE.

Meanwhile, the sixth tropical storm of the season, Florence, was reportedly taking shape in east Atlantic, about 1,240 km west of the Capeverdian Islands, but was not presenting a threat to the Dominican Republic, said Onamet.

Since April, at least four people have been killed by flooding around the country.

Meteorologists estimate the region will be hit by between nine and 15 tropical storms, and four to five hurricanes for the 2012 season that began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The region saw 12 storms and six hurricanes last year. Enditem

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