Hurricane Sandy left a trail of destruction through the Caribbean, bringing strong winds and heavy rain

In Haiti, a bridge connecting to Dominican Republic was destroyed by fast rising water.

Towns are flooded and residents take to higher ground for safety.

(SOUNDBITE) (Creole) ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ GANTHIER RESIDENT, TONY BELIZAIRE, SAYING:

"This is a not a normal situation. There is almost nobody left in the area. Every home is flooded with water and people had to take to higher ground for safety. We have been working hard to save lives, but we've found one dead body in the water."

At least 20 others were killed in the deeply impoverished country.

Hurricane Sandy has been blamed for at least 34 deaths in total after tearing through Cuba and the Bahamas.

Forecasters said Sandy is potentially spawning into a hybrid "super storm" that could wreak havoc along the U.S. East Coast.

Cities and smaller communities are making last-minute preparations.

The Atlantic storm is expected to make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday.