This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7589299.stm
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba | Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Gustav, now a highly dangerous Category 4 storm, is bearing down on Cuba after leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean. | Hurricane Gustav, now a highly dangerous Category 4 storm, is bearing down on Cuba after leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean. |
| The eye of the storm has hit Cuba's Isle of Youth and is approaching the mainland with maximum winds of nearly 230km/h (145mph), US monitors say. | The eye of the storm has hit Cuba's Isle of Youth and is approaching the mainland with maximum winds of nearly 230km/h (145mph), US monitors say. |
| Category 4 is stronger than Katrina was when it hit New Orleans in 2005. | Category 4 is stronger than Katrina was when it hit New Orleans in 2005. |
| Extensive flooding has hit the western tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio and Havana province, reports say. | Extensive flooding has hit the western tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio and Havana province, reports say. |
| Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Cuba's low-lying coastal regions. | Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Cuba's low-lying coastal regions. |
| HURRICANE CATEGORIES FIVE: Winds over 155mph (249km/h). Storm surge more than 18ft (5.4m) above normal. Only three such US landfall hurricanes - Labour Day 1935, Camille 1969 and Andrew 1992FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Katrina hit New Orleans as a three. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre In pictures: Hurricane GustavPreparing for Gustav | HURRICANE CATEGORIES FIVE: Winds over 155mph (249km/h). Storm surge more than 18ft (5.4m) above normal. Only three such US landfall hurricanes - Labour Day 1935, Camille 1969 and Andrew 1992FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Katrina hit New Orleans as a three. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre In pictures: Hurricane GustavPreparing for Gustav |
| In the US, New Orleans is enforcing a mandatory evacuation order for coastal districts, or parishes. | In the US, New Orleans is enforcing a mandatory evacuation order for coastal districts, or parishes. |
| On Friday night, Gustav struck the low-lying Cayman Islands, flooding streets in the tax haven and luxury tourist resort but reportedly causing no injuries. | On Friday night, Gustav struck the low-lying Cayman Islands, flooding streets in the tax haven and luxury tourist resort but reportedly causing no injuries. |
| Earlier, Gustav swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, killing more than 70 people and causing widespread damage. | Earlier, Gustav swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, killing more than 70 people and causing widespread damage. |
| Its projected path also takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, before striking the US early next week. | Its projected path also takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, before striking the US early next week. |
| America's Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expected a "huge number" of residents would be told to leave the region over the weekend. | America's Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expected a "huge number" of residents would be told to leave the region over the weekend. |
| Storm surge fears | Storm surge fears |
| Upgrading the storm to a Category 4, the US National Hurricane Center warned it could still grow into a Category 5. | Upgrading the storm to a Category 4, the US National Hurricane Center warned it could still grow into a Category 5. |
| Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008)Enlarge Image | Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008)Enlarge Image |
| Half a million sacks of valuable dried cigar tobacco leaves were moved into safe storage and stiff winds have begun hitting Havana. | Half a million sacks of valuable dried cigar tobacco leaves were moved into safe storage and stiff winds have begun hitting Havana. |
| Hotels and shops have been boarding up windows as large waves lash the capital's famous seafront promenade, the Malecon. | Hotels and shops have been boarding up windows as large waves lash the capital's famous seafront promenade, the Malecon. |
| Trains to and from the capital have been suspended until further notice. | Trains to and from the capital have been suspended until further notice. |
| Cuba, the only communist country in the Americas, boasts one of the best organised disaster-preparedness systems in the region, the BBC's Michael Voss reports. | Cuba, the only communist country in the Americas, boasts one of the best organised disaster-preparedness systems in the region, the BBC's Michael Voss reports. |
| However, much of its ageing housing stock is in poor condition and this could pose additional risks if Gustav hits the capital, a crowded city of two million people. | However, much of its ageing housing stock is in poor condition and this could pose additional risks if Gustav hits the capital, a crowded city of two million people. |
| Families living in some of Havana's older, more dilapidated buildings were moved to alternative accommodation during the morning. | Families living in some of Havana's older, more dilapidated buildings were moved to alternative accommodation during the morning. |
| Katrina dead | Katrina dead |
| Gustav claimed the lives of at least 59 people in Haiti, eight in the Dominican Republic and four in Jamaica, where heavy rains caused flooding and strong winds tore roofs off houses. | Gustav claimed the lives of at least 59 people in Haiti, eight in the Dominican Republic and four in Jamaica, where heavy rains caused flooding and strong winds tore roofs off houses. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Strong winds batter the Cayman Islands | Strong winds batter the Cayman Islands |
| In New Orleans, residents of coastal parishes faced mandatory evacuation from noon (1600 GMT). | In New Orleans, residents of coastal parishes faced mandatory evacuation from noon (1600 GMT). |
| The city buried the last seven unclaimed bodies of Katrina at a memorial site on Friday. | The city buried the last seven unclaimed bodies of Katrina at a memorial site on Friday. |
| Gustav is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday and four states in all plan large-scale evacuations. | Gustav is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday and four states in all plan large-scale evacuations. |
| Emergency officials have warned that a tidal storm surge up to nine metres (30ft) is possible along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. | Emergency officials have warned that a tidal storm surge up to nine metres (30ft) is possible along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. |
| "Plain and simple, Gustav is forecast to be a large and powerful hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, headed toward the northern Gulf coast," said Richard Knabb, a senior hurricane specialist a the US National Hurricane Center. | |
| A state of emergency is in place in Louisiana and Texas, allowing the federal government to co-ordinate disaster relief and provide assistance in storm-affected areas if necessary. | A state of emergency is in place in Louisiana and Texas, allowing the federal government to co-ordinate disaster relief and provide assistance in storm-affected areas if necessary. |
| Gustav is the second major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. | Gustav is the second major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. |
| Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |