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Powerful Gustav heads to Caymans Gustav strengthens off west Cuba
(about 7 hours later)
Hurricane Gustav is moving towards the Cayman Islands as it continues to threaten Cuba and the US Gulf Coast. Hurricane Gustav has strengthened into a category two storm as it approaches western Cuba, US forecasters have said.
The storm has already killed at least 71 people as it passed through the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. Cuban civil defence forces have been put on alert, and a mass evacuation is under way in low-lying coastal areas, where mudslides and floods are feared.
Gustav could develop into a category three storm over the weekend as it passes over warm waters. Gustav has already struck the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, killing more than 70 people.
The warnings came as New Orleans buried some of the last unidentified victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city three years ago. It could become a category three storm over the weekend as it passes over warm waters and heads for the US Gulf Coast.
Both New Orleans and coastal Mississippi have been holding commemorations for the victims of Hurricane Katrina on the anniversary of the storm sweeping ashore. Cuban authorities have evacuated more than 60,000 people from low-lying coastal areas in Pinar del Rio and Isla de la Juventud before Gustav hits, and have mobilised medical and emergency rescue teams to deal with the possible aftermath.
All buses and trains to and from Havana have also been suspended until further notice.
The BBC's Michael Voss, in Havana, says that the Caribbean island has one of the most efficient disaster preparedness and evacuation organisations in the region, but that the poor condition of housing in the capital could pose additional risks in a major storm.
Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (29 August 2008)Enlarge Map
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has said it expects a "huge number" of residents will be told to leave the region over the weekend.
Gustav's approach came as New Orleans buried some of the last unidentified victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city in 2005.
Cuba concernCuba concern
Away from the US, Gustav strengthened from a tropical storm on Friday to become a category one hurricane and currently has sustained winds of up to 130 km/h (81mph), officials said. As of 0610 GMT on Saturday, Gustav had become a category two hurricane with wind speeds of up to 155km/h (100mph) as it passed about 85km (50 miles) north-east of Grand Cayman and about 500km (315 miles) east-south-east of the western tip of Cuba, the US National Hurricane Center said.
name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region The storm will move away from the Cayman Islands on Saturday morning at about 19km/h (12mph) before passing through western Cuba later in the afternoon and into the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday.
The storm hit Jamaica with heavy rains and strong winds, tearing roofs off houses. We look ahead to a better day, as we also prepare ourselves for another threat Ray NaginMayor of New Orleans class="" href="/1/hi/world/7588568.stm">Preparing for Gustav
It is now moving slowly, at about 12km/h (7.5mph), and there are fears that it could intensify as it lingers over the warm, deep waters of the Caribbean Sea. Gustav has already 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.
Cuban authorities have already evacuated more than 60,000 people from low-lying coastal areas and have mobilised medical and emergency rescue teams to deal with the possible aftermath. There have so far been no reports of any casualties from the Cayman Islands, where storm surge and heavy rains flooded streets overnight.
The BBC's Michael Voss, in Havana, says that Cuba has one of the most efficient disaster preparedness and evacuation organisations in the region, but that the poor condition of housing in the capital could pose additional risks in a major storm. The government did not impose a curfew, but urged people to remain indoors to avoid interfering with emergency workers.
Gustav's projected path also takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico. Gustav's projected path also takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, where workers have been evacuated from several rigs.
On Friday, residents of the Cayman Islands were boarding up windows and stocking up on supplies of food and fuel. Tourists on the low-lying luxury islands were flown to safety or told to ride out the storm in bunkers.
Workers were being evacuated from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, as oil prices on trading markets rose amid forecasts Gustav could threaten oil installations in the region.
Katrina compassionKatrina compassion
New Orleans buried the last seven unclaimed bodies of Katrina at a memorial site on Friday.New Orleans buried the last unclaimed bodies from Katrina on Friday New Orleans buried the last seven unclaimed bodies of Katrina at a memorial site on Friday as the biggest storm to hit the region since approached.
"We look ahead to a better day, as we also prepare ourselves for another threat," said Mayor Ray Nagin at the funeral. New Orleans buried the last unclaimed bodies from Katrina on Friday
It is forecast to hit the US early next week as the biggest storm since Katrina, prompting evacuation plans in New Orleans. "We look ahead to a better day, as we also prepare ourselves for another threat," said Mayor Ray Nagin.
A spokesman for the US emergency response administration, Fema, warned that a tidal storm surge up to nine metres (30ft) was possible along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Later, Mr Nagin said an evacuation order was likely, though not before Saturday.
US President George W Bush has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana and Texas. Gustav is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday, prompting four states to plan large-scale evacuations.
Meteorologists say the storm could make landfall in the US anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday. Emergency officials have warned that a tidal storm surge up to nine metres (30ft) is possible along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
The aftermath of tropical storm Gustav in the Dominican Republic US President George W Bush has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana and Texas, allowing the federal government to co-ordinate disaster relief and provide assistance in storm-affected areas.
Gustav has already claimed the lives of at least 59 people in Haiti, eight in the Dominican Republic and four in Jamaica.
Heavy rain and wind lashed eastern parts of Jamaica on Thursday.
Gustav had been downgraded to the status of a tropical storm after weakening over Haiti on Wednesday.
But forecasters now fear it could develop winds of up to 180km/h (111 mph) by the time it reaches Cuba on Saturday.
A hurricane is defined by winds of 119km/h (74mph), according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Gustav is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.Gustav is the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
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